How to Unclog a Toilet: DIY Methods to Clear Clogs

Understanding Toilet Clogs

A clogged toilet can quickly become an inconvenience or even emergency in your home. When something blocks the toilet trap or further down the drain pipe, flushing waste and paper becomes impossible. Common culprits for clogs include excess toilet paper, flushable wipes, hair, and various bathroom products. Thankfully, arm yourself with the right information and products to get your toilet functioning properly again.

Why “Flushable” Wipes Cause Problems

Although many personal hygiene and baby wipe products claim flushability, most should not go down the toilet. These wipes commonly contain strong fibers that do not break down. As they accumulate in pipes, they snag additional debris and quickly snowball into stubborn clogs.

Preventing Future Toilet Troubles

An ounce of prevention saves major pipe repairs down the road. Encourage everyone in the household to only flush toilet paper and human waste. Use trash cans for all other bathroom products, including wipes labelled as flushable. Over time, small amounts of accumulation can still lead to clogs. Periodically pour a microbial drain cleaner down the toilet to digest buildup before it becomes problematic.

Unclogging a Toilet Without a Plunger

Before pulling out a plunger, try a few simple tricks with handy household items.

Dish Soap

Squirt a generous amount of dish soap into the bowl. The soap helps lubricate the pipes and break down minor accumulations. Let it sit for a few minutes before attempting to flush.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

This classic science experiment also works wonders for clearing drains. Pour 1 cup baking soda down the toilet, followed by 2 cups vinegar. The chemical reaction helps dissolve clogs. Let the mixture sit then flush a few times.

Boiling Water

Bring several pots of water to a rapid boil. Carefully pour down the toilet bowl. The intense heat helps melt down accumulations. Alternate with cool flushes to shock and dislodge the clog.

Using a Plunger

With perseverance, a standard flange or accordion toilet plunger usually gets the job done. Choose a plunger designed specifically for toilets over standard sink plungers.

Create a Tight Seal

Ensure the plunger bell forms a tight seal over the hole at the base of the toilet bowl. Fill the bowl to 1 to 2 inches below the rim before beginning.

Break the Seal

Work the plunger vigorously up and down 5 to 10 times without removing it from the hole. This motion helps dislodge the clog from pipe walls while breaking up accumulations.

Attempt to Flush

Remove the plunger and flush the toilet. Repeat the vigorous plunging if water remains blocked in the bowl. Adding a few squirts of dish soap boosts lubrication too.

Using an Auger

For tough clogs a standard plunger cannot bust through, reach for an auger or drain snake. Insert the metal corkscrew end down the toilet and rotate clockwise. Carefully push to spin through the curved trap then continue rotating into the straight pipe section.

Retract Slowly

Once reaching your premeasured depth, crank the handle counterclockwise to bring back the snake. Go slow to avoid leaving debris behind. Use towels to catch drips.

Clean Between Attempts

Remove caught hair or waste before sending the auger back down for additional passes. Repeat until achieving success. Flush multiple times afterwards.

Unclogging a blocked toilet takes patience but numerous household methods exist before calling a plumber. With the right tools and techniques, you can tackle the inconvenience yourself.

FAQs

Why do flushable wipes cause clogs?

Flushable wipes often contain strong fibers that do not break down, even when labelled as flushable. Over time, they accumulate in pipes along with other debris, eventually forming significant clogs.

What homemade mixtures help unclog toilets?

Effective homemade unclogging solutions include dish soap, baking soda + vinegar, and boiling water. The soap lubricates pipes while the chemical reaction and heat help dissolve accumulations.

How do you use a plunger properly?

Create a tight seal between the plunger and toilet bowl hole. Vigorously plunge up and down while maintaining the seal to dislodge clogs. Flush between attempts to check progress.

When should I use an auger/drain snake?

If a plunger cannot clear a stubborn toilet clog, reach for an auger or drain snake. Carefully insert into the toilet and crank clockwise through the pipes to hook and retract debris.