How to Plunge a Toilet Paper Clog

Too much toilet paper can cause a clog.

Clogs happen. Paper towels, feminine napkins, wipes and other non-flushable items are all common offenders that lead to clogged toilets. Using too much toilet paper can also cause a clog, especially if you use one of the cushiony, soft, extra-absorbent varieties. Toilet clogs can happen at a moment’s notice, and having the right tools on hand can make all the difference. When a toilet paper clog rears its ugly head, a plunger can be your best friend.

Things You'll Need

• Flange plunger
• Toilet auger

Instructions

1. Check behind the toilet, just above the floor, and find the water shutoff valve. The shutoff valve is a round or oblong-shaped knob. Turn it clockwise to shut off the water to prevent your toilet from overflowing.

2. Set a flange plunger over the hole in the center of the toilet. Push the plunger up and down with five or six forceful strokes. Stop, then repeat this process several more times until the toilet paper dislodges and the water recedes.

3. Switch to a toilet auger if the plunger is unsuccessful. The toilet auger is a tool with a rubber corkscrew extension on one end and a crank handle on the other. Push the rubber tip into the toilet hole and turn the crank.

4. Continue cranking and cranking until the toilet auger frees the toilet paper and relieves the blockage. Remove the auger when the water recedes. Plunge the toilet with another five or six forceful strokes.

5. Flush the toilet. Normal flushing means that the toilet paper has worked its way through the toilet system and the clog is history. It is safe to turn the water back on at this time and use the toilet as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• A flange plunger is the type that has the extra rubber ring around the interior cup.

• Rubbing petroleum jelly over the bottom of the plunger helps it form a tighter seal during plunging.

• If neither the plunger nor the auger fixes the toilet paper clog, it is time to call the plumber. A toilet clogged with paper can lead to other blockages in the home. Eventually, the entire sewer system connected to the home can clog. This can cause water to back up into all of your drains. Professional plumbers have the right tools and products to prevent this from happening.

References

• The Plunger.com: How to Unclog a Toilet
• Drano.com: How to Unclog a Toilet
• Dummies.com; How to Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger; Gary Hedstrom, et al.

Resources

• Clemson University Extension: Repair it Yourself; Freeing Clogged Plumbing Lines; May 1994