How to Unblock a Toilet

We’ve all faced it at least once in our lives … the dreaded blocked toilet. No matter who or what was the culprit behind it, toilet blockages can wreak havoc on your plumbing system, and potentially your home as well. Therefore, they need urgent attention to fix the problem ASAP.

We know that stubborn clogs can be a stressful disruption to your everyday life. We all take operational toilets for granted. Depending on the severity of the toilet clog though, you may be able to fix it with some basic supplies from home and save yourself a call to a plumber! So let’s look at how to unblock a toilet and get it flushing freely again. Make sure you’ve got some rubber gloves ready just in case!

What is Blocking My Toilet Drain?

Before we explore how to deal with a blocked toilet, it’s also a good idea to first be aware of what exactly is blocking your toilet. The most common culprits are things like:

• using too much toilet paper
• flushable wet wipes / baby wipes
• tissues
• any other foreign objects

Now you might have noticed flushable wipes in the list and be thinking “surely they’d be OK?” Despite the word flushable in their name, the majority of these wipes are made of materials that do not break up in water and therefore contribute significantly to your blocked toilet problems. We strongly recommend not flushing these down the loo.

Methods of Unblocking Blocked Toilets

Ever wondered how to unblock a toilet without a plunger?

As it happens, there are several ways you can go about attacking toilet clogs, and it’s not all about grabbing the plunger from underneath the bathroom sink. Though they are certainly a reliable and easy-to-use tool, you do have options. For example, you can use:

• homemade drain cleaners
• augers or plumbing snakes
• DIY plumbing snakes
• liquid dish soap and hot water (not boiling water)
• store-bought drain cleaners (as a last resort though)
• even the humble toilet brush!

If you attempt a DIY job, like the dishwashing liquid and hot water trick, it’s important to know what you are doing and plan accordingly. Most of the methods mentioned above come with risks attached. Some may damage your pipes and drains or exacerbate the situation by pushing the blockage further down the already-blocked toilet.

If at any stage you are unsure of your ability to clear the toilet blockage, you think you are only making it worse, or if the symptoms persist, call Metropolitan Plumbing for prompt blocked drain plumbers in your area.

Preparation is Paramount!

Preparation is key, so make sure you have all the right equipment and set up before attempting to unblock a toilet. If you’ve flushed once and it is clearly blocked and not draining properly, DO NOT try to flush the toilet again hoping it will unblock.

This will only cause the toilet bowl to overflow and create an awful mess. To minimise the clean-up, lay down newspaper sheets or paper towels to soak up any toilet overflow or splash. Prepare yourself by putting on some rubber gloves to protect your hands from the unsanitary toilet water.

How to Unblock a Toilet Bowl with a Plunger

We’ve touched on some ways to unclog a toilet without a plunger; let’s now look at how to go about it with one.

Plungers work best when unclogging toilets blocked by a build-up of toilet paper. But don’t use your normal plunger with the suction cup that you’d use for a kitchen sink or shower drain. In this instance, you’ll need a heavy duty plunger with the flange head that fits neatly into the toilet drain hole.

Run the toilet plunger under some hot water before beginning. This will soften the rubber and help to create a seal with the toilet bowl. Insert the head entirely into the water and make sure it covers the entire hole. If you need to add water you can do so from the tap.

Start pumping the toilet plunger back and forth to dislodge the blockage. It may not work immediately, but you’ll know it when it happens. Once you think you’ve unclogged the toilet, flush it to make sure it’s all draining properly.

How to Unblock a Clogged Toilet with Chemical Solutions

There are three kinds of chemical solutions you may use to unblock a badly clogged toilet.

1. Enzyme products
2. Homemade drain cleaner using baking soda and vinegar
3. Drain cleaning chemicals

We’ve listed these in the order that we recommend you try them. Enzyme products are by far the best way to clear a blockage. They contain a mixture of enzymes that break down and liquify solid waste and are often found in stores like Bunnings, in the plumbing supplies aisle.

They are a far safer alternative to your usual caustic chemical drain cleaners. Enzymes won’t harm your pipes and are much better for the environment. With these store-bought solutions, simply follow the instructions outlined on the packaging for the most effective results.

Baking Soda And Vinegar

If you’d rather avoid any caustic chemicals in your pipes, the next best option is a homemade baking soda and vinegar solution. To make this you will need:

• 2 litres of hot water (NOT boiling water)
• 1 cup baking soda
• 2 cups vinegar

For this homemade mixture, pour the very hot water back into the toilet bowl, followed by the vinegar and baking soda and leave overnight. The solution will fizz up a great deal. But if all things go well, it should safely break down the blockage and clear it from your waste pipe and plumbing system.

Note: This, and other chemical solutions, will only work for toilet clogs that consist of organic matter. If you’ve successfully done these steps but still find the blockage persists, you very likely have a hard obstruction.

Hot Water and Dish Soap

If your toilet is clogged, a simple remedy involves hot water and liquid dish soap. Firstly, squirt a generous amount of dish soap into the toilet bowl. Then, pour hot water — not boiling, as it may crack the porcelain — from waist height down the toilet drain to create pressure. The water helps the soap lubricate and break down organic matter. Let it sit for a few minutes. Afterward, flush the toilet. The combination of soap and hot water should have eased the blockage, allowing the toilet to drain normally. Repeat if necessary, but if problems persist, consider using a plunger or calling a professional.

Plumbing Snake

A plumbing snake, also known as a drain snake or an auger, is a long flexible rod with a head attachment that can snake its way deep down into the toilet drains. They’re arguably the best tool to use when the blockage is far down the pipes and solid in nature. Chances are if the situation is bad enough to need a plumbing snake, you most likely need a plumber to help.

However, if you’re determined to DIY it, keep on. It’s fairly self-explanatory – insert the rod into the drain until you feel the obstruction, then twist the auger to make the sharp head spin. This will break up the obstruction into smaller pieces, making it easier for it to flush away.

(Quick note: You may want your toilet brush handy to clean up after you pull the drain snake out.)

DIY Tools

You can also attempt to use a homemade type of auger by cutting a wire coat hanger and extending it out. Then wrap a rag or cloth around one end and insert the hooked end into the drain like you would a plumbing snake. Without the attachable sharp head of the toilet snake, all you can do here is push to try and dislodge the obstruction.

This is a risky one as you could potentially just move the blockage deeper into the drain hole without loosening it, so we suggest this as a last resort.

If All Else Fails, We Know How to Unblock a Toilet

If you’ve tried all this and the situation isn’t getting better, or worse yet, it’s getting worse, it may be time to call a licensed plumber. A blocked toilet can be a fairly serious issue, so it’s important, not to muck around with it too much. If your efforts with a wire coat hanger or baking soda and vinegar haven’t worked out, it’s time to bring in a professional.

Your local Metropolitan Plumbing toilet specialist is only an hour away*. We can provide a long-term solution that will sort your toilet pipes and drains out for good. We can even make sure your toilet cistern is in perfect working order. Our plumbers have more advanced machinery and equipment that can make short work of even the most stubborn blockages. Call today!

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.