We rarely think about toilets until something goes wrong with them. When our toilet blocks or clogs, it can be more than a small inconvenience, especially if we don not have a plunger. Keep in mind that a badly blocked toilet could interrupt your household completely.

Although clearing the blockage is frequently as simple as plunging the drain, you might need to run an toilet auger through your plumbing.

Some clogs might be far down the pipe or very hard to remove that you will require a plumber. These tips will help you unclog your toilet.

Plunger

While this tool might appear simple, it remains the best way of unblocking a toilet. We recommend all households to have this tool handy and preferably one with a flange because they work best to unblock toilets.

When using a plunger, you need to place the it in the toilet bowl and push it down gently. The first push is simply to eliminate the air in the toilet. Take care not to push to hard, otherwise; you might splash dirty toilet water on yourself.

Once you have a good seal, pump the plunger down and up forcefully while sustaining the seal on the toilet bowl. Pull the plunger up sharply while breaking the air seal. You will notice the water rushing down the drain. If this has not fixed the blockage, repeat the steps until the clog loosens in the toilet.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

When your toilet will not flush and you do not have a toilet plunger, you can turn to non-toxic household cleaning remedies, such as vinegar and baking soda. You probably know that vinegar and baking soda are great at cleaning numerous surfaces, function as great deodorizers, and are helpful in keeping our toilet drains running smoothly.

These household cleaners also work when you need to fix a blocked toilet if you do not have a toilet plunger. We recommend you add a cup of baking soda to your blocked toilet and wait a few minutes. Next, pour two cups of vinegar slowly into the toilet.

Vinegar and baking soda will typically react to form bubbles, so ensure you pour carefully and slowly to prevent the toilet water from splashing. Allow the baking soda and vinegar mixture to work for a couple of minutes in the toilet.

You will need to flush your toilet to establish whether the clog has cleared. You might need to repeat the process until the clog in the toilet clears. The clog will clear when your toilet makes a fast suction sound and drains naturally thereafter.

Hot Water and Dish Soap

Heat up 4 liters of hot water on the stove and pour some dish soap into your toilet while the water is heating up. When the water is extremely hot, but not boiling, pour into the toilet carefully. Wait for 10-15 minutes while the dish soap and hot water soften the blockage.

Once you do so, the toilet will unclog and flush freely. Alternatively, you could use hot water and shampoo if you wish to clear your toilet without leaving your bathroom.

The Snake

For about R400, you can purchase a toilet snake. You only need to purchase it once. You can thread the handy device into the toilet and then wind it around until you release the blockage. While this can get a bit messy, it is better than using your hands. This method is particularly beneficial when the clog is deeper than the toilet bowl itself.

If this approach doesn’t work, try again and contact a qualified plumber Do not use a clothes hanger as a substitute because it can scratch the toilet bowl’s porcelain surface.

Household Bleach

Household bleach helps break down the waste in the toilet. The procedure resembles the one that involves dish soap. Simply replace the solid or liquid dishwashing soap with 2-3 cups of bleach. After two minutes, pour one cup of powdered soap. Wait 10-15 minutes and flush your toilet. You will discover this approach is more efficient for a very blocked toilet.

Contact a Plumber

While this approach is simple, it is probably the easiest and most reliable way of unblocking a stubborn toilet. The best thing about hiring a plumber is that they have everything we require to tackle even the worst toilet blockages. 

Most of us have dealt with blocked toilets at one point or the other and while it is easy to assume a toilet plunger will do the work, you might not have one at the time. Therefore, it is important you implement other means of unblocking your toilet. If you do not know where to start, consider these tips.