The Best Way to Unblock a Toilet

Fix a clogged toilet with a few household items.

A clogged toilet is a major problem that must be dealt with immediately, particularly in single-bathroom households. Many have had success using a plunger to remove toilet clogs, but there a few lesser-known solutions you can try before calling a plumber. After trying the plunger, move up to a straightened wire hanger before getting out a drain auger or snake.

Things You'll Need

• Plunger
• Rubber gloves
• Wire hanger
• Liquid dish detergent
• Toilet snake

Instructions

1. Place the plunger over the toilet's drain and pump it up and down a few times to loosen and dislodge the clog. Put on rubber gloves and remove objects with your hands, or use an unbent wire hanger to break up the waste. Flush the toilet to see if the problem is solved. If not, move on to the next step.

2. Pour ¼ cup of dish detergent into the toilet bowl, then boil a gallon or two of water. Pour the water into the toilet bowl if doing so won't overflow the toilet. Flush the toilet to see if the clog has been dislodged.

3. Feed an unbent wire hanger through the toilet drain and press against the clog to shift it to one side. Flush the toilet to see if this solves the problem. If not, try to use the hanger to pull or push out the block, or break it down further. If the block isn't within reach, use a toilet snake to feed cable down the drain and pipes to push out the block.

References

• Brigham Young University: Board Question #16407
• "Planet Green"; 7 Green Methods to Unclog a Toilet; Eric Leach; June 18, 2009