How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger in 60 Seconds

There are few housecleaning jobs as universally distasteful as unclogging a blocked toilet, and the job only gets worse if you find you don't have a plunger in the house. There are a few methods you can use to quickly and easily remove the offending clog from your drain pipes. These methods work best with "soft" clogs and will not be very effective against nonbiological matter in the pipes.

Things You'll Need

• Pot
• Dish soap
• Coat hanger

Instructions

1. Stop the toilet from running if water is still filling up the bowl. Lift the lid off the toilet back, and push down the valve in the tank to stop the water.

2. Examine the toilet bowl to determine the level of water. If there is still several inches of room between the water level and the bowl lip, continue to step 3. Otherwise, skip to step 5.

3. Boil a pot of water on your stove, then pour it slowly into your toilet bowl. Pour in as much as you can manage without spilling over the lip. The hot water will help soften the blockage.

4. Add 1 1/2 cups of dishwashing soap to the toilet bowl, as well. The soap is far heavier than water and will sink down the drain, adding extra pressure on the blockage that may help to loosen it.

5. Unbend a coat hanger, and thread the wire down the toilet drain until you reach the blockage. Twist and push the hanger into the blockage to loosen and remove the unpleasant matter.

Tips & Warnings

• If none of the above methods work, a toilet auger, or toilet snake, may be your best option. Unwrap the snake and slide it down the drain until it hits the blockage, then rotate the handle to screw the end of the snake into the blockage. Pull the snake up to break up the blockage and to free the clog.

• Wear rubber gloves at all times when performing these steps. Contaminated water such as that found in a blocked toilet can be hazardous to your health if it comes in contact with your skin.

References

• Art of Manliness; How to Unclog a Toilet Like a Plumber; Brett McKay, et al.; September 2009

Resources

• HowToUnclogAToilet.Net: Homepage