How to Clean a Blocked Toilet Like a Pro: 7 Super...

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a blocked toilet, is there? The unexpected sight of swirling, unflushed water rising in the bowl can make your heart sink and your stomach churn. Whether it’s caused by too much toilet paper, a child’s toy or even just a build-up of waste over time, a blocked toilet can bring about a feeling of dread.

I remember vividly the first time I encountered this messy problem in my own home. The smell, the dirty water, the embarrassment when guests were due to arrive in an hour…it’s a situation that can throw your whole day off. And with the potential for overflow and water damage, it can also become a costly disaster if not tackled promptly.

But don’t worry, you’re not alone, and there is a way out. This guide will walk you through simple, effective methods to unblock your toilet. From everyday household items like baking soda and vinegar to specialized tools like a plumbing snake or toilet auger, we’ve got you covered.

Think about the immense relief you’ll feel when you see that water finally going down, the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself, and the peace of mind knowing that you’re prepared for the next time it happens. Let’s roll up our sleeves, put on our rubber gloves and tackle this together. No one wants a blocked toilet, but with this guide, you’ll handle it like a pro. Ready? Let’s dive in!

How to Clean a Blocked Toilet Like a Pro

Preliminary Steps to Take Before Cleaning a Blocked Toilet

Before we delve into the methods of unblocking your toilet, there are some preliminary steps that are essential to ensure both your safety and the effectiveness of the cleaning process.

Identifying the Signs of a Blocked Toilet

Firstly, it’s important to identify the signs of a blocked toilet. Are you experiencing slow drainage in your toilet bowl, or does the water level in the toilet bowl rise instead of drain away after a flush? Maybe your toilet isn’t flushing properly at all. These can all be indicators that your toilet is blocked.

Ensure Proper Air Circulation

Secondly, while it might be your first instinct to close the bathroom door and windows due to unpleasant odours, adequate air circulation is vital. Good ventilation helps clear odours and also helps to dissipate any potentially harmful fumes, especially if you’re using chemical-based drain cleaners later on.

Gather Necessary Materials

Next, gather the necessary materials. For basic DIY methods, you’ll need baking soda and white vinegar, a wire coat hanger, a toilet plunger, some dish soap, and a bucket. Have some hot water ready too. For more stubborn blockages, a plumbing snake or toilet auger can come in handy.

Protective Measures

Protective measures are not to be taken lightly. Wear protective rubber gloves to shield your hands from bacteria and possible chemical reactions. If you have a mask, consider wearing it to avoid inhaling fumes or splashes.

Clear Out Excess Water

Before you start, if your toilet bowl is filled to the brim, it’s a good idea to remove some of the excess water into a separate bucket. This will help prevent water from splashing onto you or the floor while you’re unblocking the toilet.

Ready Your Hot Water

Finally, have some warm or hot water on standby. Heat often helps to break up certain types of blockages, like soap residue or organic waste. Just remember, the water should be hot but not boiling, as boiling water could crack the porcelain of the toilet bowl.

By taking these preliminary steps, you’re creating a safe and effective environment for you to start the unblocking process. Remember, the goal is to get your waste pipe clear and your toilet back to flushing properly without causing any damage or risk to your health. Now that you’re prepared, let’s get to unblocking your toilet!

How to Clean a Blocked Toilet Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

One of the most effective, economical and eco-friendly ways to unblock a toilet is by using household items such as baking soda and vinegar. This combination works great for loosening minor blockages due to their ability to create a fizzy chemical reaction that can dislodge the obstruction.

What You’ll Need

Baking Soda
White Vinegar
Hot Water
Rubber Gloves
Protective Goggles (optional)
A Bucket

Steps to Unblock Your Toilet

Prepare Your Materials: Before you start, ensure you’re wearing rubber gloves and optional protective goggles. This isn’t just for hygiene purposes but also to protect your skin and eyes from splashes.
Remove Excess Water: If the toilet bowl is filled to the brim, carefully remove excess water using a small container and pour it into a bucket. This prevents overspill when you add the baking soda and vinegar.
Add Baking Soda: Pour half a cup of baking soda into the blocked toilet bowl. Try to get as much of it as possible to go directly into the toilet hole. The baking soda needs to reach the clog to be effective.
Follow with Vinegar: Slowly add about half a cup of white vinegar to the bowl. The vinegar and baking soda will react, causing a fizzing action. This chemical reaction can help to break down the clog.
Wait: Let the vinegar and baking soda work on the clog for about half an hour. Resist the urge to flush or add anything else during this time. The fizzing action needs time to work on the blockage.
Add Hot Water: After the waiting period, pour two to three litres of hot water into the bowl. This helps to further the reaction and also pushes the vinegar and baking soda mixture down towards the blockage.
Check: If the water level starts to lower, the clog has been successfully dislodged.
Flush: Once you can see the water drains properly and the water level in the bowl remains normal, you can give the toilet a flush to ensure everything is flowing as it should.

Remember, this method is most effective on minor blockages and clogs, and it might not work on more severe blockages or on toilets that are completely blocked. If your toilet remains blocked after trying this method, it may be time to move onto a different approach.

How to Unblock a Toilet Using a Wire Coat Hanger

Sometimes, the blockage in your toilet may need a bit more persuasion to dislodge. This is where a simple household item like a wire coat hanger can be incredibly handy. Here’s how to do it:

What You’ll Need

Wire Coat Hanger
Rubber Gloves
Protective Goggles (optional)
Old Cloth or Duct Tape

Steps to Unblock Your Toilet

Prepare Your Tools and Safety Gear: Begin by wearing rubber gloves and optional protective goggles. This is important for hygiene and safety reasons.
Ready Your Wire Coat Hanger: Unwind a wire coat hanger and straighten it out as much as possible. You’ll want to keep the hook at one end to help reach and break up the clog.
Wrap the Hanger: Wrap an old cloth around the hook end and secure it with duct tape if possible. This prevents the hanger from scratching the porcelain of the toilet bowl. If you don’t have a cloth, you could use duct tape alone.
Insert the Hanger: Carefully insert the hook end of the hanger into the toilet bowl and aim for the waste outlet.
Probe and Hook: Gently probe and stir the wire inside the waste pipe to break up the blockage. You might feel some resistance when the hanger reaches the clog.
Push Gently but Firmly: Apply gentle but firm pressure to break up the blockage, but avoid pushing too hard as you might end up lodging the blockage even further. The goal is to either break up the clog or hook onto it so you can pull part of it out.
Remove and Test: Once you’ve worked on the blockage with the hanger, carefully remove the hanger from the toilet. Then, give the toilet a flush to see if the blockage has been cleared.
Repeat if Necessary: If the water still isn’t draining properly, you may need to repeat the process a few times.

The wire coat hanger method can be quite effective on certain types of clogs, especially ones that aren’t too far into the waste pipe. However, if the clog remains after using this method, it may be time to escalate to a more advanced tool or method. Remember to always be cautious when using a wire hanger or any object to physically unblock a toilet to avoid damage to your toilet or pipes.

How to Clean a Clogged Toilet with a Plunger

Using a plunger is a classic method for clearing clogged toilets. It’s easy, efficient, and most homes typically have one handy. Here’s how to unblock a toilet using a plunger.

What You’ll Need

Plunger with a Flange (Toilet Plunger)
Rubber Gloves
Protective Goggles (optional)

Steps to Unblock Your Toilet

Prepare Your Tools and Safety Gear: First, ensure you’re wearing rubber gloves and optional protective goggles. These are important for hygiene and safety purposes.
Check the Water Level: Before you start, check the water level in the toilet bowl. If the water level is too high, you may need to remove some to prevent it from overflowing when you start plunging.
Position the Plunger: Place the plunger in the toilet bowl and ensure the flange is inserted directly into the drain hole. The cup of the plunger should completely cover the hole.
Create a Seal: Make sure the plunger is submerged in water. This helps to create a better seal and more effective suction.
Start Plunging: Using a strong and steady motion, push down on the plunger then pull up sharply to create suction, then push down again. The goal is to push the blockage through with the downward motion and draw it back with the upward pull.
Continue Plunging: Continue this push-pull action for about 15-20 seconds.
Check: Lift the plunger out of the water. If the water drains out of the toilet bowl, this is a good sign that you’ve broken up the clog.
Test: Give the toilet a flush to ensure the clog is fully gone and the water is flowing normally again.

Using a plunger to unblock a toilet is often very effective and can handle a majority of common clogs caused by excessive toilet paper or non-flushable items. However, if the clog remains after plunging, it may be time to try a more robust method or consider calling in a professional plumber.

How to Unblock a Clogged Toilet with a Bucket of Water

A clogged toilet can sometimes be resolved with a simple bucket of water. This method works by using the force of a large amount of water delivered quickly into the toilet to dislodge the clog, basically replicating and enhancing the flushing action of your toilet.

What You’ll Need

Large Bucket (10-15 litres capacity)
Rubber Gloves
Protective Goggles (optional)
Warm Water

Steps to Unblock Your Toilet

Prepare Your Tools and Safety Gear: Begin by wearing your rubber gloves and optional protective goggles.
Fill the Bucket: Fill a large bucket with warm water. The water should be warm, but not boiling, to avoid potential damage to the toilet bowl.
Check the Water Level in the Bowl: Before proceeding, ensure that the water level in the toilet bowl isn’t too high. If the bowl is filled to the brim, you’ll need to remove some water to avoid overflow. Use a smaller bucket or container to remove the excess water.
Pour the Water: Standing at a safe distance, lift the bucket and pour the warm water into the toilet bowl from a height of about waist level. The goal is to pour the water quickly to create sufficient force but take care not to splash the water.
Watch the Water Level: As you pour, keep an eye on the water level in the bowl. If it begins to rise dangerously high, stop pouring immediately.
Check: After you’ve poured the water, watch the water level in the toilet. If it begins to lower, the clog may have been dislodged by the force of the water.
Flush and Test: Once the water level is significantly lowered, try flushing the toilet to ensure the blockage is fully cleared and water flows freely again.

This method is quite effective for smaller blockages that just need a little extra water pressure to dislodge them. However, it’s not always effective for more stubborn or larger blockages. If the blockage remains after using this method, it may be time to try a different approach. Always remember to be careful when lifting and pouring the water to avoid any accidents or splashes.

The Role of Hot Water and Dish Soap in Cleaning Blocked Toilets

Another unconventional but highly effective method for unclogging a toilet involves using hot water and dish soap. This method works particularly well on clogs caused by too much waste or toilet paper. The hot water helps break up the clog, while the dish soap lubricates the toilet waste pipe, allowing the clog to slide through.

What You’ll Need

Dish Soap or Dishwasher Soap
Large Bucket
Rubber Gloves
Protective Goggles (optional)
Hot Water (Not Boiling)

Steps to Unblock Your Toilet

Prepare Your Tools and Safety Gear: Begin by wearing your rubber gloves and optional protective goggles.
Apply Dish Soap: Squirt generous amounts of dish soap or pour half a cup of dishwasher soap into the toilet bowl.
Wait: Allow the soap to sit and work for about 10 minutes. During this time, the soap will start to lubricate the clog and the waste pipe.
Prepare Hot Water: Meanwhile, fill a large bucket with hot water. The water should be hot but not boiling to avoid damaging the porcelain of the toilet bowl.
Pour the Hot Water: After the soap has had time to sit, carefully pour the hot water from the bucket into the toilet bowl. The force and heat of the water combined with the soap can help break up and dislodge the clog.
Wait Again: Let the hot water and soap mixture sit in the bowl for another few minutes.
Check and Test: After waiting, check the water level. If it starts to go down, the clog has likely been dislodged. Flush the toilet to make sure the clog is completely gone and the water is draining properly.

Hot water and dish soap can be a surprisingly effective solution for unblocking a toilet. It’s particularly handy because these are items typically readily available in your home. However, for more stubborn clogs, or if the clog is caused by something other than excess waste or too much toilet paper, you might need to use a different method or call in a professional.

Using a Plumbing Snake or Toilet Auger to Clear a Clogged Toilet

When the blockage is too stubborn for a plunger, hot water, or baking soda and vinegar, it’s time to bring out the heavy artillery: the plumbing snake or toilet auger. These tools are specially designed to handle tough clogs and can reach further down into your toilet’s waste pipe.

What You’ll Need

Plumbing Snake or Toilet Auger (Closet Auger)
Rubber Gloves
Protective Goggles (optional)

Steps to Unblock Your Toilet

Prepare Your Tools and Safety Gear: Begin by putting on your rubber gloves and optional protective goggles.
Insert the Snake or Auger: Insert the end of the plumbing snake or auger into the toilet bowl and aim for the drain.
Apply Pressure and Rotate: As you’re pushing the tool down the waste outlet, you should also be rotating it. This helps break up the clog and navigate the bends in the waste pipe.
Continue to Push: Continue to push and twist until you feel resistance. This is likely the clog.
Break Up the Clog: Once you hit the clog, keep turning the snake or auger to break up the blockage. You might need to apply more pressure and some manoeuvring to get it through a tough clog.
Remove the Tool: Once you’ve broken through the clog, slowly pull the snake or auger out of the toilet, taking care not to fling any waste or dirty water around.
Flush and Test: After removing the tool, flush the toilet to make sure the clog is completely gone and the toilet is draining properly.

The plumbing snake and toilet auger are effective tools that can deal with more stubborn clogs. They are easy to use and can be a good investment if blocked toilets are a common occurrence in your home. However, if you’re still having trouble unclogging your toilet after using these tools, it may be time to call a professional plumber.

When to Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners can be a powerful solution for blocked toilets, but they should only be used as a last resort. They contain strong chemicals that dissolve hair, grease, soap residue, and other organic material causing clogs. However, these cleaners can be harmful to your pipes and the environment if used frequently or improperly.

What You’ll Need

Chemical Drain Cleaner
Rubber Gloves
Protective Goggles
Ventilation

Steps to Unblock Your Toilet

Read the Instructions: Every brand of chemical drain cleaner is slightly different, so always read the instructions before using them.
Ventilate the Bathroom: These cleaners can release harmful fumes, so ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated.
Put on Safety Gear: Wear your rubber gloves and protective goggles to protect your skin and eyes from the harsh chemicals.
Apply the Cleaner: Following the manufacturer’s instructions, carefully pour the cleaner into the toilet bowl.
Wait: Wait for the recommended amount of time as per the product instructions. This allows the cleaner to work on breaking down the clog.
Flush and Check: After the recommended wait time, carefully flush your toilet to check if the clog has been cleared.

Remember that while chemical drain cleaners can be effective, they are also potentially harmful. They should only be used when other methods have failed. Moreover, if a clog persists even after using a chemical drain cleaner, it’s time to call a professional plumber. In some cases, a blocked toilet can be a symptom of a bigger issue with your septic tank or main sewer line, which needs professional attention.

When to Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

What You’ll Need

Chemical Drain Cleaner
Rubber Gloves
Protective Goggles
Ventilation

Steps to Unblock Your Toilet

Read the Instructions: Every brand of chemical drain cleaner is slightly different, so always read the instructions before using them.
Ventilate the Bathroom: These cleaners can release harmful fumes, so ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated.
Put on Safety Gear: Wear your rubber gloves and protective goggles to protect your skin and eyes from the harsh chemicals.
Apply the Cleaner: Following the manufacturer’s instructions, carefully pour the cleaner into the toilet bowl.
Wait: Wait for the recommended amount of time as per the product instructions. This allows the cleaner to work on breaking down the clog.
Flush and Check: After the recommended wait time, carefully flush your toilet to check if the clog has been cleared.

How to Prevent Future Toilet Clogs

Preventing clogs is easier than paying to fix a blocked toilet. Implementing simple habits can save you from the stress of dealing with a stubborn clog and also protect your toilet’s drainage system from damage. Let’s explore some preventive measures:

Be Mindful of What Goes Down

Avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper down the toilet. Items like wet wipes, sanitary towels, baby wipes, and paper towels do not break down easily and can contribute to a clogged pipe. Even excess amounts of toilet paper can cause blockages. Also, never flush down items such as a child’s toy as they can cause a complete blockage in your waste pipes.

Maintain Good Plumbing Practices

Schedule regular maintenance for your septic tank if you have one, as a full tank can cause slow drainage in your toilet. If you are connected to the main sewer line, ensure that your external drain is clear of debris. Have a professional plumber inspect your toilet and pipes regularly for any potential problems.

Educate Household Members

Inform everyone in the house, especially children, about what should and should not go into the toilet. Establishing these ground rules can prevent the inadvertent flushing of inappropriate items.

Keep a Plunger Handy

Having a plunger on hand can help you address minor clogs before they become bigger issues. Plunging your toilet at the first sign of slow drainage can help dislodge minor blockages and restore normal water flow.

Consider the Water Supply

Ensure your toilet’s water supply is sufficient. If your toilet bowl rises or water drains slowly after each flush, this could be an indication of low water pressure. In such cases, check your water valve to ensure it is fully open.

Practice Proper Cleaning

Regular cleaning of your toilet bowl with a mild cleaner can prevent the build-up of soap residue or too much waste, keeping your waste outlet pipe clear. You could include this in your weekly or bi-weekly cleaning routine when cleaning the shower and bathroom for instance.

By taking these preventive measures, you can keep your toilet functioning smoothly and avoid future toilet clogs. Just as the old saying goes, prevention is always better than cure.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a toilet clog can be stubborn or reoccur frequently, which might indicate a deeper issue. If the water level in the toilet bowl remains high and doesn’t drain, or if you notice water backing up in sinks or showers, this could signal a serious blockage in the main sewer line.

Also, if you’ve tried all the above methods and the toilet still isn’t flushing properly, it’s time to call a professional plumber. They have specialised tools and expertise to handle more complex problems, including issues with septic tanks or blocked external drains. Remember, attempting to fix a serious issue without the right skills could lead to more damage and expenses down the line.

Conclusion

Learning how to clean a blocked toilet is a valuable skill that can save you time, money, and the stress of dealing with a messy situation. From the simple baking soda and vinegar method, to the use of a plunger, coat hanger, or chemical drain cleaners, there’s a solution to handle every type of blockage.

With the right tools, patience, and a little elbow grease, you can keep your toilet clean and flowing freely. However, it’s important to know when to call a professional to avoid exacerbating the problem. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be well-equipped to handle most clogged toilet scenarios. Happy unclogging!