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Home Remedy to Unclog a Toilet

Nina Rotz

A clogged toilet is a pesky and troublesome issue for your household. Calling a plumber may not be necessary -- try a few simple home remedies instead. Have the toilet tank lid off and be ready to stop the water flow by raising the ball in the tank.

This will stop water from overflowing and any unwanted toilet bowl residue from getting on your bathroom floor.

Plunger

A funnel-cup plunger works great as it forms a good seal between it and the toilet bowl. Run your plunger under some hot water to soften up the rubber, which will then get a better seal on the toilet bowl. Push and release the plunger 10 to 15 times with firm strokes. Pullback of the plunger is important to release the clog, and you should flush the toilet after completing plunging strokes. If the water drains from the bowl, the toilet has been unclogged.

Water and Detergent

If regular plunging does not unclog the toilet, add hot water and dishwasher detergent to the toilet bowl before starting to plunge. Hot water and detergent help break up any material interfering with draining. Leave the mixture in the bowl for several minutes and attempt the plunging routine.

Bleach

Regular household bleach will help break up any material, residue and other obstructions such as toilet paper. Pour two cups of household bleach into the toilet bowl and allow it to sit for a couple of hours. The bleach should cause material to deteriorate but it will also freshen up the toilet. Flush the toilet bowl as you would normally to force the clog down.

Auger

An auger is a cable-like device that you snake through the toilet hole. This help loosen up a clog and push any materials down the sewer line. Stubborn clogs that cannot be unclogged using a regular plunger will require an auger.