Life Hack: How to unblock a toilet even if you don't own a plunger
Take the plunge to clear your drain with these steps.
Many things can cause a clogged toilet, the obvious culprit being the result of some necessary activities that generally take place atop a toilet. However, other items can clog a toilet too. Particularly strong tissue paper can struggle to break down, so it is worth opting for a lighter tissue when you are shopping for toilet paper.
You should never flush certain items like wet wipes, tampons and other sanitary items. Not only is it bad for the environment, but you can also risk blocking your toilet if you do so. Your toilet is not a bin so it should not be used to dispose of items like cotton buds or even hair, which can cause a blockage. Make sure you keep a waste bin in your bathroom to remove the temptation to flush those non-flushables in your home.
When faced with a clogged toilet, you might feel like you should try flushing the problem away but this can actually make it worse.
Only flush it once, and if that does not clear the blockage it’s time to take further steps. Make sure you protect your hands with some strong rubber gloves and prepare the immediate area in case it overflows, placing towels and newspaper around the toilet. You should also check that the water flow is turned off.
If you flush it and the water looks at risk of overflowing, you can act quickly to prevent overspill. Lift the tank lid and use the rubber floater inside to block water from filling the hole at the bottom. You could also turn off the water at the valve, which is found behind the toilet, usually towards the floor.
If you imagine a stereotypical plumber in your mind, they’re probably holding a plunger. This is the tool of choice for a reason and should be used in your first attempt at unblocking a toilet.
When using a plunger in a toilet, you should make sure there is enough water sitting in the toilet bowl to cover the bottom of the plunger. You can add more water from the sink if needed – this prevents air pockets.
Lower the plunger into the toilet bowl at a slight angle to avoid introducing extra air which would weaken the suction force. Line up the plunger so it covers the drain hole. Without breaking the seal between the plunger cup and the drain, push the plunger cup up and down 10 times or until the water starts to drain. If you see bubbles coming from the sides of the plunger, reposition it with a stronger seal and repeat the above step.
Repeat these steps as many times as necessary to clear the toilet. Once the blockage has cleared, turn the water supply back on if you had turned it off and flush the toilet as normal.
If you don’t have a plunger in your home, there are still ways you can clear a blocked toilet.
In a pinch, you can use your toilet brush in place of a plunger. Angle the toilet brush down the drain hole and ‘plunge’ it to loosen the blockage as you would in the above method.
Alternatively, pour some washing-up liquid or other liquid soap (hand soap, shower gel, etc, will work) into the toilet. Next, heat some water – do not use boiling water for this as it could crack your toilet’s porcelain, hot water from the tap will do the trick.
Fill a bucket or other large container with hot water and pour this directly into the toilet bowl on top of the soap, stopping when it fills to just below the rim of the toilet.
Let it sit for a few minutes: the pressure of the water may push the blockage and the soap will help to dissolve anything blocking the drain.
Of course, if the above steps do not improve the issue you should hire a professional plumber to examine the toilet.
