The toilet always seems to get clogged in the least opportune moments; Thankfully, you can clear most of the blockages yourself without having to hire (and pay) a plumber. Generally, you can clear the drain with a plunger or household drain cleaner made from boiling water, vinegar, and baking soda. In severe cases, try a pipe cleaner or a wet vacuum.
Steps
Method 1 of 7: with a plunger
Step 1. Avoid water overflowing from the toilet
If the drain does not work properly the first time you flush it, avoid flushing it again, otherwise you will accumulate more water in the cup; instead open the cistern and block the outlet valve, so that no more water spills into the toilet.
- This valve resembles a round cap attached to a chain.
- The water in the tank is not dirty, so you can put your hand inside to close the valve.
Step 2. Prepare the bathroom
Put newspaper or kitchen paper on the floor to absorb any splashes of liquid and also facilitate the final cleaning operations; you should also turn on the fan or open a window to minimize bad smells.
- If the obstruction is severe enough, put on a pair of rubber gloves. Toilets are unhygienic items, but a good pair of rubber gloves protects you from germs; choose a model that covers the arms above the elbows.
- You should also wear old clothes in case you get dirty.
Step 3. Inspect the toilet to try to locate the obstruction
If you can see the object blocking the drain, try to reach for it and remove it if possible. If you can't do it with your hands, but you know for sure there is something (like your child's toy), avoid using the plunger and choose another technique.
Step 4. Get a high quality plunger
It is essential to use a large model with a sturdy rubber end, with a flange facing up or with a spherical shape, to create a good adherence to the toilet walls; avoid cheap suction cups, because they often don't work.
Put it under hot running water before using it to soften the rubber and facilitate the formation of a perfect seal
Step 5. Put it in the toilet
Make sure it completely covers the drain hole. The rubber part must be completely submerged to be effective, because you have to pull and push the water and not the air; if necessary, pour more water down the toilet.
Push the plunger over the drain. Go calmly at first, as the first movement simply pushes some air. Apply downward pressure and then quickly pull on the tool to loosen and loosen the obstruction. Continue in this vigorous fashion until water begins to flow down the drain. It may take 15-20 attempts to clear the toilet. Be patient, as long as you are sure there is no hard material object in the toilet, this should suffice. It may not work immediately, but after running the drain several times and using the suction cup for a while, the drain should be patent again
Step 6. Flush the toilet to check the drain
If you have managed to empty the toilet bowl, but the obstruction is still preventing the water from flowing, leave the suction cup in the toilet and add more water. Fill the toilet to the usual level and use the plunger again. "Stubborn" blocks need to be "treated" several times.
Method 2 of 7: with an Enzyme Product
Step 1. Purchase an enzymatic product
Choose one that contains active ingredients that can liquefy waste materials; generally, it is used in septic tanks to degrade the contents.
- You can find it in supermarkets or hardware stores among the shelves dedicated to plumbing; it is better to use this enzymatic substance instead of a chemical drain cleaner, because it does not harm the pipes or the environment.
- This method only works if the obstruction is caused by an accumulation of organic material and not by toys or other objects.
Step 2. Follow the directions on the package
Pour the recommended dose of enzymatic mixture into the toilet; usually, it is necessary to wait overnight for the active ingredients to dissolve the engorgement. The water should flow once the drain is open.
Method 3 of 7: with a Household Detergent
Step 1. Heat 2 liters of water
If the toilet tends to lock up easily due to excessive waste, a mixture of very hot water, baking soda, and vinegar is often as effective as a commercial drain. Boil 2 liters of water and wait for it to cool for a while as you pour the other ingredients into the toilet bowl.
- Use at least two liters of water; a low dose is not effective because it does not impart sufficient force to push the obstruction.
- The water shouldn't be hotter than a tea that you can drink comfortably; it must not be hot, otherwise it could break the ceramic. Your goal is to increase the temperature of the water that presses the block or flows around it.
Step 2. Pour 200 g of baking soda and half a liter of vinegar into the toilet
The combination of these two substances generates a chemical reaction that can dissolve the block; generally, you opt for distilled vinegar, but any type is fine. The mixture should fizz abundantly.
- If you don't have baking soda and vinegar, try pouring some dish soap into the toilet. it should loosen up the material causing the obstruction a little.
- However, keep in mind that this method will not work if the blockage is caused by a hard object such as a toy.
Step 3. Pour hot water into the toilet
Drop it from a height higher than the edge, as the energy accumulated during the descent helps to clear the drain.
Step 4. Let the mixture sit overnight
The next morning the discharge should be patent; this household drain cleaner should suffice when the obstruction is organic in nature. If you don't get results even after the second try, there may be a hard object in the drain; if so, use a plumber's probe or a metal hanger.
Method 4 of 7: with a Plumber's Probe
Step 1. Get a plumber's probe
This tool is sometimes called a "plunger spring" and is basically a flexible metal coil that can slide into the drain following the curves of the pipes to greater depths than the wire. The best model is the one equipped with an auger tip and is designed precisely to free the toilet without damaging or staining the porcelain; this is the kind of probe a plumber would probably use.
Step 2. Insert one end of the probe into the drain
Push it down until you can feel the obstruction.
Step 3. Rotate and push the tube through the block
The goal is to break the material into fragments so that they can flow into the pipes; it may take a few minutes to succeed. Once the drain gets back to work, flush the toilet to make sure the water is flowing normally.
Step 4. Insert the probe from the opposite end
It may be necessary to disassemble the toilet and slide the plunger spring in the opposite direction, especially if the blockage is caused by a hard object falling into the toilet. If you know for sure this is the case and you don't know or don't want to remove the toilet yourself, call a plumber.
Method 5 of 7: with a coat rack
Step 1. Open and straighten a metal hanger
Wrap one end with a rag and fix the latter with duct tape, this precaution prevents the sharp edges of the metal from scratching the ceramic. It is best to use this method when the obstruction is in the first few inches of the drain.
Step 2. Slip the wrapped end of the hanger into the toilet
Then turn, push and rotate the coat hanger with the intention of freeing the drain; if you can feel the obstruction, push the tool. Continue like this until the water starts flowing.
- Wear rubber gloves for this, as you can cause a lot of splashing while fiddling with the hanger.
- If you cannot feel the obstruction and the drain does not start working again, it means that the block is beyond the range of the metal wire; in this case, rely on the plumber's probe.
Step 3. Flush the toilet when the water in the toilet has been drained
The obstruction and dirty water should flow through the pipes normally. If the drain is still sluggish, the block may have simply moved deep, out of reach of the wire, and in that case you should use a probe.
Method 6 of 7: with a chemical release agent
Step 1. Purchase a drain cleaner
You can find it in supermarkets, hardware stores and home improvement stores. Use it only as a last resort, because the chemicals it contains are toxic to people, animals and corrode pipes; moreover, chlorine-based products are extremely polluting.
- If you are concerned that the blockage is caused by a hard object, do not use chemicals, but a pipe cleaning probe or call a plumber.
- Use only products designed for the toilet; if you use those for generic drains, you could damage the bowl.
Step 2. Pour the indicated amount of product into the toilet
Follow the instructions on the package carefully and keep the lid down to prevent toxic fumes from filling the bathroom.
- Never use the rubber plunger immediately after pouring in the chemical drain cleaner; also proceed with great caution, as splashes could fall on the skin.
- Make sure there is good air circulation in the bathroom to avoid inhaling the chemical fumes.
Method 7 of 7: with a wet vacuum cleaner
Step 1. Buy or borrow a wet vacuum cleaner
If you have tried the plunger and the plumber's probe without success, you can evaluate this appliance; do not use a normal vacuum cleaner, it must be able to withstand the presence of water.
Step 2. Empty the water in the cup with the vacuum cleaner
The toilet should be empty, free from liquids or debris, before vacuuming the obstruction.
Step 3. Put the end of the hose into the drain
Push it into the toilet hole for a few centimeters and take care to use only the hose without connecting any accessories; wrap an old rag around the drain to seal it.
Step 4. Turn on the appliance
Apply pressure on the rags with one hand to keep the drain tightly closed while you wait for a few moments for the vacuum to do its job; there is a good chance it will remove the block.
Advice
- Regularly clean the nozzles located along the edge of the toilet, so that the water flow is always at maximum power and can make obstructions less frequent. If you haven't cleaned them in a while, you may need to carefully use a screwdriver to loosen the encrustations.
- Before a complete blockage occurs, you may notice or hear the water rising from the sink or shower drain each time you flush. This means that the blockage is deep and will eventually render the toilet unusable; if so, do not waste time with the methods described in the article but call a plumber.
- If the toilet becomes clogged often, try to understand the cause and prevent it from happening again; Typically, the factors responsible are: excessive amounts of toilet paper, tampons (some can be thrown down the toilet but most not), toys (both for children and pets), cotton swabs and wet wipes.
- Thoroughly clean the bathroom; sanitize the cup with a disinfectant cleaner after clearing the drain. Throw away the wire (if you have used it), discard or disinfect the rubber gloves and any other tools (such as the suction cup or the probe) you have used. These items can spread germs, and if you don't wash them, they start to smell. The plunger used (especially the model with flange) may contain water residues; hold it over the toilet, rotate it a little and shake it to get rid of all the water so it doesn't drip onto the floor.
- A mop with a plastic bag over the fabric strips works just as well as a plunger.
Warnings
- Do not violently push or pull the plunger when it is in the toilet, as this is unnecessary and may cause splashing.
- Disassembling chemicals are generally very toxic and dangerous; make sure they do not come into contact with the skin or eyes and do not mix them with other substances. Follow the manufacturer's directions to the letter and be aware of all warnings.
- Coat hangers and drainage probes can scratch the ceramic of the toilet; act carefully to minimize the damage at least in the visible part of the cup. Use appropriate pliers to shape the end of the hanger into a "V" shape that you insert to catch the obstruction; then cover this hook with electrical tape. Proceed very carefully when trying to hook the obstruction or toy, slowly pull it out with a smooth motion.
- Most of the drain cleaners available in supermarkets are not suitable for unclogging a toilet. Read the product label to make sure you can pour it down the toilet. Remember that some drain cleaners release a large amount of heat as soon as they come into contact with water; if you don't handle the job well, the heat can severely damage the cup and the plastic tube it's attached to.
