When a toilet gets clogged, you should be able to grab the nearest flange plunger and fix the problem in a minute or two. But what do you do if there is no plunger and your toilet is clogged? You might have just moved into a new home. Maybe you’re at your plunger-less friend’s place. Is the plunger the only way to unclog a toilet?
It’s not as hard (or gross) as you might think to unclog a toilet without a plunger. Even if you don’t have a plunger, there are a few surprisingly easy ways to clear even the toughest clogs. Here are the best ways to clear a clogged toilet, in the order you should try them:
#1: How to Get Hot Water Out of a Clogged Toilet
First, get a large bucket filled with hot water. Note: You want hot, but NOT boiling hot. If you put boiling water in the toilet bowl, it could crack the porcelain. Fill a bucket with the hottest water you can get from the tap. Pour that hot water into the toilet bowl until it’s almost full, then let it sit.
The heat should help break up any solid waste so it can be flushed down the toilet. If this doesn’t work, don’t worry; just try the next thing. The “hot water in the toilet” trick is just the beginning.
#2: Use dish soap to unclog a toilet
Put a lot of dish soap in the bowl of the toilet. Use a heavy-duty brand that cuts grease, like Dawn. Give it roughly fifteen minutes to sit. Any solids will be broken down by the soap. It will also make the bowl and pipes slippery, making it easier for the clog to slide down the drain.
Try the “hot water trick” again after putting the dish soap in the toilet. Pour a pot of hot (but not boiling) water into the bowl and let it sit for another 30 minutes.
Give the water and soap some time to break up the clog, and then try flushing again. If that didn’t fix the problem, try doing this process again or leaving the dish soap in the toilet overnight.
#3: Epsom Salt to Clear a Clogged Toilet
If you have some extra Epsom salt, you’re in luck. When you put Epsom salt in water, a chemical reaction happens that makes the water fizz and bubble. The bubbling and fizzing can really help break up clogs.
Pour a large amount of Epsom salt into your toilet. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then try to flush it again. After the first flush, you should see good results. You could also use the dish soap and hot water trick along with this one.
#4: Use a Wire Hanger or Toilet Brush
This is the easiest way to get rid of a clog. If heat and chemical reactions haven’t worked, it’s time to get your hands dirty. Use a toilet brush if you have one. If not, unfold a wire hanger. Put your tool of choice into the toilet bowl’s opening and move it around.
Depending on what the clog is, this could be kind of gross, so we recommend wearing gloves. Make sure you don’t damage the toilet bowl by accident while you’re working. If you are too rough or don’t care, you can easily scratch porcelain with wire hangers.
#5: Get a toilet plunger
You should now be able to flush your toilet. You should do a couple of things now that it’s working.
First, buy a flange plunger from a store. These ways to use the toilet without a plunger will work in a pinch, but they can’t replace the real thing.
Second, figure out why your toilet got clogged, to begin with. Does this often happen? If it does, there may be a bigger problem with the plumbing in your home.
#6: Call your local smelly plumber
Even with a plunger, sometimes a clogged drain can’t be fixed without the help of a professional. Sometimes bigger problems with the plumbing cause clogs and other problems to keep happening. In either case, you should talk to the experts at CBJ Passaic Plumbers. We’ll look at your home’s plumbing to figure out why these clogs are happening. We can help make sure you don’t have to buy a new plunger for a while.
