How to Fix a Clogged Toilet

Toilets are not that important in someone’s life unless something goes awry. When the toilet clogs or fails to work as it is supposed to, it can be worse than disturbing, it can be very embarrassing. Especially if you are a guest at someone else’s house and facing a clogged toilet. Do not worry if you run into this uncomfortable situation. With some ingenuity, a stuck toilet is nothing to fret over and can make it work quite quickly. The situation can be managed if you are at home or away. Check out how to unclog a toilet with less of a hassle below.

1. First use the Plunger, If you have one

A plunger seems basic but it is not, it is still the best way to unblock a toilet! Every home should have a plunger, and optionally a plunger with a flange, as those work the greatest to unclog toilets. Flat plungers work great for drains and baths. How to open a toilet with a plunger: put on gloves, if you own them. Put the plunger in the toilet bowl and force it down gently. The first drive is mere to get rid of the trapped air. If you push too vigorously, you could splatter dirty water upon yourself. Now that you have a solid seal, forcibly pump the plunger upward and downward, maintaining the seal of the plunger. Lastly, pull the plunger up clearly, splitting the air seal. The water should race down the drain. If this has not opened the clog, repeat these measures until the clogged toilet has been released. And this is how you unclog the toilet using a plunger!

2. Baking Soda and Vinegar

If the toilet won’t flush and you don’t have a plunger handy, turn to the non-toxic household assistants: baking soda and vinegar. You may know that baking soda and vinegar are excellent at cleaning many facades such as cleaning a toilet bowl, excellent deodorizers, and help to keep pipes running easily. Baking soda and vinegar can also be excellent when you need to know how to fix a plugged toilet without a plunger. Just add one cup of baking soda to the closed toilet. Wait a couple of minutes. Next, gently pour two cups of vinegar into the toilet bowl. Baking soda and vinegar respond to cause bubbles, so make sure to pour gently and carefully so that the toilet water does not rain on you.  Allow the vinegar and baking soda blend to work for some minutes. Flush the toilet to check if the worse is over.

3. Plumbing Snakelean

Plumbing snakes are helpful tools to have around in the house. Regular snakes can damage porcelain toilets, so make sure to use a proper toilet snake, also called an auger. A toilet auger has a rubber cover to preserve the toilet’s porcelain. How to use the snake toilet: place the top in the toilet bowl. Begin gradually turning the handle clockwise. When you feel the hardness, wind the snake back. If the clog has been released, flush the toilet and check. If not, wind the snake back in and redo it until the clog is loosened up and the toilet flushes normally.

4. Dish Soap and Hot Water

You don’t have a plunger or vinegar and all but everyone has dish soap and water in their house. This is the best way to unclog a toilet without a plunger. Put a gallon of hot water. Squirt some dish soap into the toilet first and then the hot water. When the water is really hot, but not boiling temp, carefully empty it into the toilet. Wait some minutes while the hot water and soap dissolve the clog. The toilet should be unclogged now and flushing normally. You can also use shampoo and hot water from the sink if you don’t want to leave the bathroom to heat the water.

5. Wet/Dry Vacuum

This is really a different method for making a clogged toilet work normally, it is quite unique. Beware: do not try this method with a normal vacuum as you will break the vacuum and might electrocute yourself. Before you start, put rubber gloves on as this method needs to hold the vacuum hose inside the toilet. If the bowl is not empty, first clear the water out. Step 2, place the vacuum hose inside the toilet drain and wrap an old towel or a cloth around the hose to generate suction. Now power the vacuum on, steadily holding the towel and hose in place. The vacuum should produce enough suction to remove the blocking out. Completely clean and sanitize the vacuum after the whole operation.