A clogged toilet can be a troublesome situation that can happen to anyone. However, professional help is not always necessary - there are many simple home remedies to quickly and effectively solve this problem.
In the following article, we will advise you on how to unclog a toilet quickly and effectively. You will also learn what to do to prevent similar situations in the future.
How to Unclog a Clogged Toilet?
A clogged toilet is quite a problem, especially if an unpleasant smell emanates from it. Furthermore, when the flush is activated, the contents of the bowl dangerously rise to its edge. Don’t panic! When this situation occurs, you don’t have to call for help right away.
Firstly, it is worth checking the effectiveness of home remedies for a clogged drain. The most commonly used remedies include:
- hot water,
- a mixture of baking soda and vinegar,
- chemical products,
- a toilet plunger,
- a plastic bottle,
- a wire hanger.
How to Unclog a Toilet with Hot Water?
This is probably the simplest method for unclogging a toilet that is worth trying first. It may happen that the drain pipe in the toilet has clogged due to the buildup of deposits inside. The blockage can be caused by greasy waste that accumulates over time on the drain pipe, narrowing the water flow. Many people make the basic mistake of flushing food scraps down the toilet, which is one of the most common causes of a clogged toilet.
How to deal with the problem? Simply pour water into a large pot and bring it to a boil. Then carefully transfer the pot to the toilet and slowly pour its contents into the bowl. The hot water should help with the blockage and thus enable the free flow of waste into the sewage system. Additionally, you can add dish soap to the hot water, which also effectively dissolves greasy deposits.
Baking Soda for Unclogging Pipes
Baking soda is one of the most important cleaning ingredients used in many households, especially in combination with distilled vinegar. This mixture is also effective for unclogging the toilet bowl. You should pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into the bowl and then add half a cup of vinegar.
A vigorous chemical reaction will begin, accompanied by the release of a large amount of foam. The bubbles formed during this reaction effectively detach the dirt from the walls of the bowl and the drain pipe, allowing the soda-vinegar mixture to unclog the toilet. When the water in the bowl stops "bubbling" - flush and check if the method has produced the desired effect. If necessary, the whole process can be repeated, allowing the mixture to remain inside the bowl for at least half an hour.
Chemical Products for Clogged Toilets
If the above home remedies don’t work, you can reach for special toilet cleaning products. These are substances that contain sodium hydroxide, which is considered a very effective cleaning agent. You can try unclogging the toilet with Kret (probably the most popular product on the market) - it is available in liquid or granule form.
To unclog the toilet with Kret, just pour or sprinkle the appropriate amount of the product into the clogged drain and then rinse it with warm water. The exact use of the liquid is described on the packaging.
Attention! It is worth mentioning that Kret is a highly corrosive product, so it’s best to wear rubber gloves before using it. The product should be kept away from children.
How to Unclog a Toilet with a Bottle?
In addition to water and chemical products, proven mechanical methods can also be used. If your household doesn’t have a rubber toilet plunger, you can use other methods - for example, a bottle. How to unclog a drain in the toilet with a bottle? It’s very simple:
- take a regular 1.5-liter plastic bottle,
- cut off the bottom of the bottle and score the walls along - to a depth of a few centimeters,
- cap the bottle with the lid,
- place the bottom of the bottle against the drain,
- press the bottle vigorously, performing up and down motions.
The action of the plastic bottle is identical to that of a plunger. The vacuum created by the dynamic movement should remove the blockage.
How to Unclog a Toilet Clogged with Paper?
If you’re wondering how to unclog a toilet where toilet paper has become stuck, a wire hanger may initially prove to be a good idea. By bending it, you create a simple tool that you can use to reach the blockage in the pipe.
A slightly curved end of the hanger will allow you to remove toilet paper or other items causing the clog. However, be careful not to push the blockage further down the pipe, as this can effectively block the entire drain. You can remove the clog by extracting the pieces of paper and other materials from the bowl.
What to Do When Water Starts Flowing from a Clogged Toilet?
Now that you know how to unclog a clogged toilet, let’s move on to solving another problem. It may happen that water starts to overflow from a clogged toilet.
First, turn off the valve to prevent flooding the bathroom. Before you start unclogging, remove water from the toilet bowl using any container, cup, glass, etc.
The cause of the leak could be a damaged seal, the flush system, or a clog located further down the drain that is hard to reach. If the source of the problem is a clogged drain pipe, get professional help. If the issue is a seal or flush, you can replace them yourself.
Common Causes of Toilet Clogs
If you don’t want to deal with the problem and hastily search for a solution to unclog the toilet, act proactively. One of the most common causes of clogging is an excess of toilet paper. If there are children in the house, make them aware of this.
The most common causes of toilet clogs are:
- paper towels,
- cotton swabs,
- cosmetic pads,
- wet wipes,
- food products or leftovers,
- others.
How to Prevent Toilet Clogs?
To prevent a clogged toilet:
- don’t flush any items that aren’t designed for toilets;
- regularly clean the toilet;
- occasionally use products that help break down solid waste.
What Cannot Be Flushed Down the Toilet?
We hope that the methods presented in the article above for dealing with a clogged toilet will help you manage the problem on your own. However, remember that if none of the home remedies work, professional help will be necessary - the problem with the clogged toilet is likely much more serious than you think.