It’s a regular morning, and you are following your usual toilet routine. Suddenly, despite multiple attempts to flush, the water refuses to drain, possibly due to inadequate water pressure.
Alas, your toilet is blocked! It may appear as though the flushing mechanism is malfunctioning, but the actual culprit is typically a clogged toilet drain. This common household issue can often be attributed to excess toilet paper and requires prompt attention to prevent the undesirable event of an overflowing toilet. A plunger is generally a useful tool in such situations.
However, innovative measures need to be taken when a plunger is not making the cut, or perhaps is not available. Believe it or not, standard items found in your home can prove surprisingly effective in dealing with a clogged pipe if you are armed with the right know-how. This article will delve into seven ingenious methods to rectify a blocked toilet in the absence of a plunger.
So, without any more dilly-dallying, let’s get on with it!
7 Ways Of Unclogging Your Toilet Without Using A Plunger
1. Boiling Water
When faced with a stubborn toilet clog, sometimes a plunger alone may not suffice. During such toilet crises, a tried and true method is to employ the hot water technique. Simply pour hot water into a pan and bring it to a simmer on the stove, taking care to avoid letting it reach boiling point.
Once the water has heated up, decant it into the blocked toilet drain, allowing it to address the clog. If successful, you will observe the water draining from the toilet, indicating the clog has been loosened. Proceed to flush the toilet a couple of times to ensure the clog is entirely eradicated. You may need to add more hot bath water until the blockage has been thoroughly cleared.
2. Dish Soap
Those who claim dishwashing liquid is exclusive to kitchen use have clearly not seen its surprising utility in the bathroom! Dish soap can effectively dissolve stubborn toilet clogs, eliminating the need for a plunger. However, it’s essential to use a generous amount of dishwashing liquid for this task. Try adding it with a large plastic bottle for easier application.
You can use a quarter cup of dish soap and pour it into the toilet bowl. Don’t be stingy about using the dishwashing liquid; pour more if you have a nasty clog. Leave it for five to ten minutes to move down the toilet drain to reach the clog. After that, decant some warm water down the toilet and observe the result.
Now, flush the toilet twice to see if the water drains correctly. Usually, the dishwashing liquid works as a lubricant to get the clog moving again.
3. Baking Soda And Vinegar
Vinegar and baking soda are a classic, time-tested combination for effective unclogging options for your toilet. When mixed, vinegar and baking soda form a fizzy mixture that loosens any toilet clogs.
Pour a cup of baking soda and vinegar equal to the toilet drain, and let the fizzy mixture bubble up and do its trick. Usually, one cup of each ingredient is enough to unclog a toilet.
Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes, then pour some hot water to check whether the toilet drains correctly. You can repeat the process multiple times until every last bit of the clog is removed.
4. Toilet Brush
No matter how gross it may seem, a toilet brush can save you from facing the troubles of a clogged toilet if you don’t have a plunger. Grab your toilet brush and thrust it down by angling the bristles. You might need to get your hands dirty with this one.
Pump the brush-up and down the toilet drain several times to loosen the clog and move everything again. Now, flush it a few times to see if the bathroom properly drains water. If it doesn’t work the first time, you might have to keep it for a few more rounds.
5. Old Coat Hanger
Drain snakes work well in loosening clogs, but you don’t have a toilet snake. Unwind a wire hanger to make it straight, except for the top hook. Then, wrap the hook with a rag to prevent it from scratching the porcelain of your toilet bowl.
Now, carefully insert the hanger into the toilet bowl hole and gently manoeuvre the hook until it reaches the obstruction. It’s crucial to remember to wear rubber gloves for this task to prevent any unwanted mess. Use the hook to nudge and loosen the blockage. Once you notice the water starting to drain, give the toilet a flush to ensure everything has been cleared.
6. Unclogging Mixture
When speaking of toilet unclogging liquids, we usually talk about Drano. But if you don’t have Drano, you can always concoct an unclogging mixture right at home using regular pantry staples. Take two cups of baking soda, a quarter cup of Epsom salt, and eight to ten spoons of dishwashing detergent and mix them well. Remember to add the detergent one spoon at a time.
Now, pour the mixture into separate muffin liners and harden overnight. Then, drop one of them in your toilet and add some water. Finally, give it a few hours to see the results. This homemade unclogging mixture can be quite effective in instantly removing the most persistent toilet clogs!
7. Wet/Dry Vacuum
If you’ve tried all the unclogging methods mentioned earlier, we’ve saved the last, but nothing is working. It’s time to Hulk out and rent a wet/dry vacuum to unclog the toilet. But never try unclogging your toilet with your regular vacuum. Only a wet/dry vacuum cleaner can get the job done.
First, use the machine to remove all the water from the toilet bowl. Then, wrap the vacuum hose with an old rag, creating a seal. Now, stick the hose down your toilet drain for a few inches and turn it on. The vacuum cleaner will suck the clog out straightaway.
Get That Toilet Unclogged!
There are plenty of other tools that you can use to unclog your toilet besides the plunger. After you read our article, we hope you will be able to find a solution to your clogged toilets, even if you do not have a plunger to do so.
You can find an arsenal in your kitchen cabinets if you look hard enough. However, remember that before tackling a blocked toilet drain, it is always a good idea to put on your protective rubber gloves first!
When your blockage still refuses to move, talk to Big Blue Plumbing. We can get your toilet working again with years of experience with blocked toilets and damaged drains! Contact our local plumbers now for more information or to schedule an appointment.
And with that, we’ll sign off. Until next time!
