How To Unblock A Toilet Without A Plunger

Dislodging The Clog

When it comes to toilet maintenance, people usually don't go beyond regular cleaning as long as there are no structural issues with the toilet. One particular situation that can cause people to call for maintenance is when their toilet gets clogged. This situation often requires urgent attention rather than leaving it alone.

Are you wondering what to do if your toilet doesn't flush as it should? You might need to get a plunger if this happens to your toilet. However, using a plunger isn't the only way you can handle such a situation. There are various ways to prevent your toilet from overflowing, even without a plunger.

It will surprise you to discover that there are many materials around you that you can use to clear out a clogged toilet. Examples of these materials include a metal wire that you can easily reconfigure into a plumbing snake or even baking soda from your kitchen.

Basically, there are many household items that you can use to unblock your toilet with ease, and you don't always have to use a plunger. In this article, we'll go through how you can unblock your toilet without a plunger, so keep reading!

Reasons Why Your Toilet Is Blocked

Before we continue with the ways to unblock a toilet without a plunger, you need to understand the cause of the blockage in the first place. Different factors can cause your toilet not to flush, and it could be as simple as the water flow being too weak or due to low pressure. With that, flushing the toilet will be rather tricky.

Sometimes, people get tempted to put different trash items like tissues and other similar materials in their toilet, especially when they want to save bin space. However, this factor can cause your toilet to block quickly.

Additionally, here are some items that you should always keep away from your toilet:

• Toys
• Hairs
• Paper towels
• Nappies
• Cotton materials
• Pads and tampons
• Baby wipes

These are the main items that can block your toilet, and it's essential to know them to be able to remove them quickly. As mentioned earlier, a plunger is one of the most common items that people rush to whenever they want to unblock their toilet. It's not only a cheap option but also space-saving and easy to use. All you need to do is to push inside the toilet bowl using the plunger. But if you don't have a plunger, you'll need other options, and that's what we'll show you below.

Unblocking A Toilet Without A Plunger

While there's no single best way to unblock a toilet, the different methods offer great flexibility, particularly with what can make the situation a lot better. Regardless of whether you're using a DIY approach or you hire a professional to handle the problem for you, there are certain things that you probably already know.

Items like dish soap and baking soda can work wonders in your toilet. You only need to ensure that you use them the right way. Another thing you can do is redesign a metal wire into a plumbing snake. There's so much more that you might want to consider trying to unblock your toilet, and they include the following:

Unblocking A Toilet With Baking Soda

If your toilet is not flushing correctly, one of the first things you should consider using is baking soda. Baking soda or bicarb is one of the most versatile household items that you can use to unblock a toilet. The substance is also used a lot in cleaning bathrooms and the kitchen, and you'd be surprised to know that it can help you unblock your toilet easily.

It's worth mentioning that for this option, baking soda is not the only thing that you'll need. In addition to baking soda, you'll also need vinegar. With baking soda and vinegar, the only thing left is waiting and watching your toilet unblock. However, one thing you should note about using baking soda and vinegar is that you'll need to ensure that the toilet bowl is not full.

Here's how to use baking soda and vinegar to unblock your toilet:

• If the water level is full, you'll need to empty some of it into a container or bucket
• Fill a cup with vinegar, and another with baking soda
• First, pour the baking soda into the toilet bowl before pouring the vinegar
• Both compounds will mix gradually, and this is followed by the release of gas that will loosen the clog
• Allow the mixture to stay for at least 30 minutes before you pour warm water
• If you notice a slight improvement in your toilet clog, you can repeat the process again to fully unblock the toilet

Unblocking A Toilet With Epsom Salts

Another option that you might want to consider trying is Epsom salts. People often refer to this substance as a DIY bath bomb. The best part is that Epsom salts are affordable and easy to use. If you want to try using Epsom salts to unblock your toilet, here's what you should do:

• Mix ¼ part Epsom salt with two parts baking soda, and add it to a few spoons of liquid detergent
• Transfer the mix to a container
• Leave it in the container overnight so that it will solidify
• Drop it in the toilet, and add a few cups of warm water, then leave it to settle for a few hours

Unblocking A Toilet With Dish Soap

This is something that's probably never going to cross your mind, but it's one of the most effective options you have. The exciting thing is that dish soap is very accessible and an easy option to help you unblock your toilet.

But how do you use dish soap to unblock your toilet? Here's what you should do:

• Add a few spoons of the liquid dish soap into your toilet bowl
• Add about five glasses of hot water to the toilet
• Leave it for at least one hour
• Flush the toilet, and watch it unblock. You can repeat the process a few more times.

In the absence of liquid soap, another option is to use small bar soap, but you'll need to cut it into smaller pieces. Also, you'll need to mix the soap with warm water before adding it to your toilet.

Unblocking A Toilet With A Wire

Sometimes, the clog will comprise chunky items, making it difficult to break into smaller pieces. This can get nasty, especially if you don't have a plumbing snake or a plunger.

The good thing is that you can use a metallic wire hanger to clear the clog. A metallic wire makes a perfect replacement for a plumbing snake. However, it's vital to ensure that the wire is strong so that it can easily agitate the clog. It should also be soft enough to bend easily.

Here's how you can use a metal wire to unblock your toilet:

• First, allow the wire to stand straight before you bend it into a hook
• Push the hook carefully into the toilet. Remember that the toilet is made of porcelain, so you need to be careful not to scratch it.
• Continue pushing the wire slowly until it gets to the clog
• Agitate the wire a bit, and pull it out slowly
• The end of the hook should come out with some of the particles blocking the toilet, which is a sign that it was able to break it up
• You can repeat the process until it starts draining correctly again

Unblocking A Toilet With Hot Water

This last method involves using hot water to unblock the toilet. This is a DIY method where your water heater will come in handy and help restore your toilet drain. It's also a perfect option for cases where the clog isn't firmly stacked in your toilet. The hot water will be all you need to clear it out.

Here's how to use hot water to unblock your toilet:

• Boil up to three litres of water
• Pour it gently into the toilet
• Leave for 15 minutes to allow the clog to loosen up
• Flush the toilet when you notice that the drain speed increases

It's important to note that this method will only work with relatively loose toilet clogs. Consider any of the other techniques above if it doesn't work.

How To Prevent Toilet Blockages In Future

From all the methods above, you'll see that it's not really difficult to unblock a toilet. However, it's an unpleasant and time-consuming process that's better to avoid. You don't have to wait until it gets blocked before you start looking for a solution. It's generally best to make it a habit to check your toilet every month to remove anything that can cause it to block later.

One of the most important things you can do is prevent the clogs from forming. By simply dropping Epsom salt bombs in your toilet, you can easily prevent it from blocking in the future. If you find it tricky to prepare these bombs, you can try other options that require minimal effort. You can use the vinegar and baking soda methods or any of the other methods mentioned above.

The most crucial thing to remember is to pay attention to what goes into your toilet. Items like hair, toys, or paper towels are among the most common things that can cause your toilet to clog. Regardless of how well you maintain your toilet, it can be challenging to stop these items from getting into your toilet. However, you can limit the amount that goes into your toilet and also prevent them from accumulating.

When To Contact A Plumber

When it comes to unblocking your toilet, always remember to use gloves. You wouldn't want to irritate your skin with the clog. Also, be sure to make space in your toilet bowl when using baking soda and vinegar because they cause the release of gas.

Similarly, be careful when using the wire snake, as it can scratch the toilet bowl. Finally, whichever method you choose, be sure to use your toilet brush to clean up the toilet afterwards.

Moreover, depending on the clog size, you may need to let a professional handle the job for you. Don't hesitate to contact a plumber if attempting to unblock your toilet yourself isn't working. It's best to get help to prevent a flooded toilet!