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Just about every person has experienced the dreadful moment when your toilet clogs and blocks, causing it to overflow. This is usually due to a build-up of solid materials that cannot get flushed away. These solids can range from waste food material, paper products, feminine hygiene products, or other items not meant for flushing down the toilet. The most common cause of this blockage is improper disposal of wipes that cannot be dissolved in water as toilet paper can.
One way to tell if any of the objects mentioned above has blocked your toilet is if there is still some debris left on top of the water surface after flushing or if you notice an unpleasant odour coming from your toilet.
Blocked Toilets are Annoying!
Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to unblock your toilet, but you do not have a plunger? Maybe it is because you are not at home, or maybe your home’s plunger just broke. Regardless of the reason, there are some steps that you can take to unclog your toilet without a plunger.
Remember that you can always reach out to a plumber if you doubt your handyman skills. However, if you want to save on the expenses of a plumber, try to clear the blockage yourself with some plumbing tools. If neither of these methods work and you have already tried plunging the toilet, then you might have to reach out to a reliable local plumber.
What Causes a Toilet to Block?
Toilets are designed with an S-shape bend that allows waste to flow down without getting stuck. However, sometimes your toilet can block due to several things. You definitely know these three things that you never want to flush down the toilet: hair, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products. But what else can cause a toilet to block?
There are several other items that you should not flush down your toilet at all because they will clog your plumbing system. Here is a list:
- Cotton balls
- Sanitary napkins
- Dental floss (waxed or unwaxed)
- Hairballs from cats and dogs
- Anything containing oil, fat, or grease such as chicken bones and bacon bits
- Baby wipes
- Plastic bottles
What is a Plunger and How to Use It
The chances are that your toilet is used more than once a day. This increases its chances of blocking if not used correctly. Therefore, it is vital to make sure that it does not get blocked. This article contains some tips on how to do this!
If this happens, there are several steps that you can take to unclog your toilet. They include:
- Using a plunger works because when you push down on the plunger, it creates an airtight seal in your toilet, forcing water into your toilet bowl and out of any blockages.
- Get a plumber to unblock the toilet as soon as possible if it is not working correctly.
- If there are no signs of blockages, but the toilet bowl’s water level is high, try running the tap until it goes down. You can also pour hot or boiling water into the bowl from time to time to help remove any residue blocking up your pipes, then flush them out with cold water once you are done.
- Do not put anything other than human waste in your toilet, as all other items can clog it.
What Do I Need to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger?
One of the most popular searches on YouTube is “how to unclog a toilet”. There are many ways you can do this, depending on what you have in your home. This article will break down each method for more information as well.
One of the best parts about owning a house is that there are many ways to take care of any problems you encounter. This includes fixing clogged toilets. The first thing that you should do in this situation is to ensure that you have the ingredients for some traditional “old school” remedies on hand. They include dish soap, baking soda and vinegar (or even bath bombs), and wire hangers for removing stubborn pieces from pipes if necessary.
Important Steps to Take Before Unblocking your Toilet
Before you begin any of the methods described, please make sure that your toilet is not overflowing. If your toilet is overflowing and you are unsure of what to do, do not flush it! Just close the lid tightly. If it has a handle on top (as in most modern toilets), turn it clockwise until it is tight before. Proceed to turn off the valves from underneath or near where the fixture sits.
Alternatively, just lift it straight back further into the space behind the seat itself. This will allow water flow, but no liquid fillings will leak out onto the floor. Next, remove any rings that may have been present when you purchased and installed the toilet, then push down on the flapper again with one hand while reaching under the bowl with your other hand.
To avoid having a clogged toilet and flooding your bathroom floor, remove the lid of your toilet tank. Push down on the rubber contraption called a flapper when it is up so that water does not go through unproductively but instead goes into its flushable bowl for easy removal later. Now cut off the water supply with the open valve found behind where you sit and wait patiently until everything has been flushed away before turning it back on again if necessary.
Note: Ensure that you use protective rubber gloves while unclogging your toilet.
How to Unblock a Toilet Without a Plunger
Method 1: Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
This is a great way to get your drains clear in no time. All you need are baking soda and vinegar, which you can find at your local grocery store or pharmacy in the cleaning supplies section.
To unblock your toilet using baking soda and vinegar, pour about a cup of each ingredient into the toilet bowl, then spread out evenly on top before adding more if necessary (vigorously stirring). Now let the mixture sit and soak for about 30 minutes.
Method 2: Use a Wire Hanger
A wire hanger should help with any plumbing problems that may arise and get things flowing again in no time! It functions as an all-purpose tool for when you need access behind walls or around corners without breaking through them. Basically, a wire hanger has got you covered from anything, including larger obstructions such as hairballs stuck inside your pipes.
Simply extend its length into your toilet until the obstruction becomes visible. Now push against the surface area until the blockage breaks free. Be careful not to cause any damage to your plumbing system. If you detect any leaking afterwards then the chances are that you somehow damaged something while unblocking your toilet.
Method 3: Pour Plain Hot Water
This method is ideal for you if you are looking to unclog your toilet without using chemicals. For this method, all you need is hot water and a large bucket. Keep in mind that while the temperature should be high enough so as not to cause any damage or crack on your toilet bowl, it should never get too close to the boiling point because pouring boiling liquids into these pipes can lead them to break. This would leave you in a situation worse than before.
The heat in hot water coupled with the water movement should be able to help unclog your toilet. All you need to do is put the water in a bucket once the temperature is just right and pour it down your toilet.
Method 4: Use of Epsom Salt
To take care of a clogged toilet, drop some Epsom salt in the bowl. This will help dissolve whatever is lodged in your pipes and allow you to flush with ease. You might want to get yourself one Epsom salt if you do not already have it because this quick method works reliably every time.
Epsom salt helps dissolve whatever is lodged within your waste pipe. You should let it sit for about 10 minutes before flushing it away. Do not forget that Epsom salt is also great at getting rid of other household toxins, so it is worth investing in.
Method 5: Use a Toilet Brush
If you do not have any wire hangers, you can use a toilet brush. The bristles should be soft and plastic-like so that they do not scratch your bowl or cause damage to anything inside of it. Hold on to the toothbrush tightly, then push hard directly onto problematic areas and scrub away. Move it back and forth into the drain hole until it starts coming out cleanly without much resistance.
Method 6: Use Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaning chemicals are not the most environmentally friendly way to clean anything in your house, be it your toilet. They can be dangerous and cause chemical burns or damage your plumbing system, not just in the short term but long term as well!
However, some clogs require you to use this method. In the event that you have to use a drain cleaner, you can make your bleach mix by combining one part drain cleaner with nine parts water. You should let it sit for about 30 minutes before flushing. However, if your drain cleaner comes with instructions for use, follow those instructions.
Method 7: Use of Dish Soap
Dish soap is a great tool to combat clogging in your toilet. It can be challenging to get rid of stubborn pieces, but using dish soap and letting it sit for 30 minutes or more usually does the trick. Simply fill up the bowl with hot water, add about 1 cup of dish soap (or more if needed), then sit back for 30 minutes while it breaks down any dirt or grime in there.
When All Else Fails, Call a Plumber!
If you have ever had a blocked toilet, then you know that it can be an emergency. It may seem like the only solution is to get in touch with your local plumber. However, there are plenty of ways that do not involve hiring a professional that will clear up any kind of blockage quickly and easily. One of these methods is using a plunger. You should always have a good quality plunger on hand in case this situation arises; it is one of the fastest and easiest techniques out there!
However, what if you do not have a plunger in your house? In that case, there are other reliable DIY solutions for you to try if you are feeling more confident about tackling this problem yourself without outside assistance. The best course of action would be to have both options.
