Published on September 15th, 2022

Last updated on February 6th, 2023

How To Fix A Clogged Toilet: Top Proven And Clever Ways

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
clean white toilet

At some point or another, every toilet becomes clogged. So, the first thing you need to do to fix a clogged toilet is to determine if it is plugged. To do this: 

  1. Place a bucket under the drain hole and flush the toilet. If water flows into the bucket, there is no blockage, and you can proceed to other troubleshooting methods;
  2. If your toilet is not flushing correctly and the water is not draining from the bowl, you need to figure out what is causing the problem;
  3. Try reaching into the toilet and see what exactly is blocking the flush. If you notice a clog, fix the clogged toilet with a plunger, hot water, or chemicals. These methods are always effective and do not require much effort.

So, now you know how to solve this problem. But do you know why toilets get clogged? 

The fact is that most often, such clogging occurs due to a large amount of toilet paper or feminine hygiene products that are thrown into the toilet. And the more you litter there, the more often it needs to be repaired. But if you think it is difficult, then you are wrong. Because now, there are many methods and means for quickly fixing a clogged toilet.

6 Best Ways To Clear A Clogged Toilet

Clogged toilets are a common problem in many households. You can use a plunger or chemical-based drain cleaner to unclog them. The latter is often faster and easier, but the products used to clear clogged toilets and drains can be toxic, so you should be careful when using them. Therefore, to better understand the methods for fixing a clogged toilet, I have prepared several ways to unclog your toilet:

1. Clearing A Clogged Toilet With Baking Soda And Vinegar

clearing a clogged toilet with baking soda and vinegar

It is a method for unclogging a toilet without a plunger. The key advantage of this way is availability and financial savings because vinegar and soda are in almost everyone’s household. Their reaction happens quickly and copes well with dirt in the toilet. So, to do this, you need:

  1. Before starting work, remove garbage and water from the sink;
  2. First, pour soda into the plum;
  3. Then, you need to pour vinegar into it;
  4. Close the drain hole tightly with a special plug or cloth. It will prevent the foam from forming due to the substances reacting and will concentrate the effect of the reagents inside the pipe;
  5. You should close the sink for 30-40 minutes;
  6. After the specified time, the plug that closes the drain should be removed, and boiling water should be poured into the sink drain hole;
  7. Then, flush the toilet two times;
  8. If nothing happens, repeat all the same steps twice.

When the toilet is clogged for a long time, it gradually starts to have an unpleasant smell. So one more advantage of this toilet clog solution is that soda can remove unpleasant odors.

2. Clearing A Clogged Toilet With A Plunger 

cleaning a clogged toilet with a plunger

When you have a question about how to clear a clogged toilet, the plunger comes to the rescue. A plunger is one of the easiest and most effective ways to unclog a toilet. You can buy it at any hardware store or home improvement center. It’s relatively cheap and has a simple scheme to use. To do it, you need:

  1. Choose the right size plunger for your toilet;
  2. Fill the toilet with water;
  3. Install the plunger’s bell to cover the drain hole as tightly as possible;
  4. Make several strong presses on the plunger’s handle, and sharply remove the plunger from the water;
  5. Repeat the procedure several times, creating pressure drops in the system, thereby destroying the blockage;
  6. After this procedure, flush the water in the toilet 3-4 times.

You need to be patient to get the desired result because it does not always work the first time, especially when a sharp object is stuck in the toilet. However, if the water flows well after that, you are doing everything right.

3. Clearing A Clogged Toilet With A Dish Soap

clearing a clogged toilet with a dish soap

Probably, you are surprised by such a home remedy for a clogged toilet. However, it works. Why? Because this toilet clog solution is a slippery substance that can loosen your clogged dirt and push it down the drain. For this, you need:

  1. Bring 3 liters of water to a boil;
  2. Carefully pour it into the toilet;
  3. Add 300 grams of soap to it. If you add more, no problem. On the contrary, a more significant amount of dish soap results faster in unclogging a toilet;
  4. So, leave it all for 10 minutes;
  5. Then add hot water to it again.

Although this method is easy to perform, it is very effective. By the way, this method is suitable for unclogging a toilet without a plunger. Sometimes it is not convenient for everyone to use physical force to clean a clogged toilet with a plunger. So, you can do this procedure 2-3 times, and the effect will be the same as with a plunger.

4. Clearing A Clogged Toilet With A Snake Tool

clearing a clogged toilet with a snake tool

The snake tool is the next way to unclog a toilet without a plunger. This instrument looks like a long wire with an attachment on one end that resembles a snake’s head. So the working end of the tube is equipped with a wire spiral, which is the central part for clearing the clog. To fix a clogged toilet with the help of such a tool, you need:

  1. Lower the end with the nozzle or spiral into the toilet;
  2. Turn the knob clockwise. In this way, the cable passes into the hydraulic lock;
  3. Then, place the cable at the maximum depth. It must be moved back and forth to “stir up” the clogging plug and push it into the riser;
  4. Gradually rotate the snake tool to fix the clog.

This method is ideal for those who want to fix a clogged toilet without a plunger. But the experts advise cleaning it with a partner since it is pretty challenging to cope with pushing the cable into the pipe alone. However, despite such difficulties, the result of this method will amaze you.

5. Clearing A Clogged Toilet With A Hot Water

clearing a clogged toilet with a hot water

When you use too much toilet paper and flush it often, it goes inside the toilets’ pipes and clogs. It is with such problems that hot water can cope. It is the best natural way to unclog a toilet. The great advantage is that you do not need to mess up your bathroom with many products and make toilet clog solutions. Just hot water will do the job. So, to do this, you need:

  1. Bring 3-4 liters of water to a boil;
  2. After that, carefully and slowly flush it down the toilet;
  3. Close it with a lid and wait 15 minutes. It is so that the hot water disperses and destroys all the trash inside;
  4. After 15 minutes, open the toilet and see if there is any result;
  5. If there is less water, then this method works. But the water may slowly drain into the toilet even after 15 minutes. It means you have severe garbage and must do this procedure several times;
  6. After that, you need to flush the toilet two times.

It is one of the simplest home remedies for clogged toilets. It is especially good for those who do not have such tools as a plunger at home. So if you need a method for unclogging a toilet without a plunger, use hot water.

6. Clearing A Clogged Toilet With A Chemical Drain Cleaner

clearing a clogged toilet with a chemical drain cleaner

You can use chemical drain cleaners to remove clogs in the toilet when there are no tools nearby. But you should be very careful about the composition of such products because they may contain aggressive chemicals. And also, do not mix them because it can have negative consequences. Therefore, to fix a clogged toilet with this method, you need:

  1. Choose the right chemical for you. It can be for the intensive removal of a blockage or the elimination of fatty waste that accumulates on the walls of the toilet pipe;
  2. After that, read the instructions for using your chemical agent in detail;
  3. Use the product in the toilet drain and leave it for an hour. During this time, your clog should soften and go down the drain;
  4. After that, you should wash the toilet and clean it two times.

Although this is not a natural way to unclog a toilet, it is effective and has advantages. For example, it is effortless and fast to use. So, if you want to clear a clogged toilet, drain cleaner’s chemicals can help your water flow again.

Bottom Line

So, as you can see, there are many ways and home remedies for clogged toilets. All you need is to choose the one that suits you best. This way, you can fix a clogged toilet with or without a plunger, as well as other methods. Of course, this procedure is unpleasant for most people, but using our ways can help you do it much faster and more effectively.

How to Snake a Toilet: Clear a Toilet Clog – So Easy!

FAQ

How To Unclog The Toilet When Nothing Works?

The first thing you need to do is make sure that your toilet is not overflowing onto the floor. Next, remove any objects from the toilet bowl. Once all items have been removed from the toilet bowl, pour 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar into it and pour it down your toilet.

How To Fix A Clogged Toilet Without A Plunger?

If you don’t have a plunger or it doesn’t work for you, you can use baking soda and vinegar. To do this, you need to add one glass of soda to the toilet and pour two glasses of vinegar into it after a couple of minutes. When the reaction passes, flush the toilet.

Does Boiling Water Unblock The Toilet?

Yes, this is an effective way. However, it is important not to use boiling water because it can crack your toilet. Therefore, I advise you to let the water cool down for 3-5 minutes and pour it very slowly into the toilet bowl. Then fixing a clogged toilet will help.

Does Flushing A Clogged Toilet Make It Worse?

With every flush of a clogged toilet, you make the situation worse. Because when the water is flushed, it causes an overflow, and it will be even more challenging to unclog it. Therefore, if there is any suspicion of a clogged toilet, do not flush it and repair it immediately.