The first signs of a clogged toilet are foul odors, which are nothing more than a harbinger of a clog that will happen in a very short time. Whatever the cause, the malfunction of a toilet, especially if it is the only one in the house, can represent a huge problem to be solved as quickly as possible.
But how to unclog the toilet?
It may seem like child's play, but the first thing you need to know is that, if not carried out correctly, DIY interventions can make the situation worse and, in many cases, necessarily require the intervention of a technician.
In this article we will provide you with a complete guide to solve your clogged toilet problem, whatever the model of toilet you own.
Equip yourself with gloves and unclog the toilet manually
Before proceeding to purchase unblocking products, plumbing tools, or prepare home remedies, equip yourself with a pair of gloves that reach at least up to the elbow and try to unclog your toilet manually. Insert your hand into the toilet, trying to reach the point where the clog is present, to pull it out. If you have in front of you a toilet clogged with paper, this can be an excellent and fast method to solve the problem. When you are done, remember to flush the toilet thoroughly.
Tools for unclogging a clogged toilet
Tools for unclogging toilets are divided into two categories:
- chemical products
- mechanical products
The least invasive and simplest attempt you can try is the one that involves using a classic suction cup or plunger.
Be careful though because risk is just around the corner: if you misuse the plunger you could worsen the situation of the blockage leading to a complete occlusion.
As for using specific products to solve the clogged toilet problem, you could opt for chemical products that you easily find on the market, or you could think of preparing natural unblockers.
Unclog the toilet naturally with water, soda, and vinegar
You will need:
- about 2 liters of water
- 200 g of baking soda
- 0.5 liters of vinegar
The mix of these three substances will dissolve the block that has formed, completely unclogging your toilet. The procedure to follow is the following: pour two tablespoons of baking soda, two glasses of vinegar and then two liters of hot water into the clogged toilet. It will take hours for the mixture to act, in fact we recommend doing it in the evening, before going to sleep so as to be sure that no one can use the toilet for a few hours.
Free the clogged toilet using hot water
In case of a light clog you can also use simple hot water to unclog the toilet. Pour the hot water using a bucket from a distance of about 1 meter high. The height of the drop will cause such pressure that the obstruction will be removed. Wait a few minutes and flush the toilet.
To improve the cleaning action of hot water you can use a bit of dish detergent, soap, or shower gel.
Unclog the toilet with a carbonated drink
Another natural and home remedy that you can use to unclog the toilet is to use very normal soda drinks. The carbon dioxide contained in the drink, in addition to being an excellent remedy to clean the shower head by removing limescale, can dissolve the obstruction that has formed in your toilet. You just need to pour it into the clogged toilet and then leave it to act for a long time before rinsing thoroughly.
Unclog the clogged toilet with a chemical unblocker
One of the simplest and fastest methods is to use specific products for unclogging toilets. On the market you can find a series of very effective chemical unblockers. If you want to use this method, you just need to pour the product into the toilet and leave it to act for the time indicated on the package. Be careful however, chemical unblockers are very aggressive products that we recommend using as a last solution and, above all, to always use protective gloves, taking care not to get splashes of product on exposed skin.
Remember that these methods can work only if the clog is not caused by a solid object.
Unclog a toilet blocked by a solid object with a hook
In the case of a toilet clogged by a solid object you can use a hook to remove the obstruction. If you don't already have one available you can create it with a classic metal hanger from the laundry. Cover the surface with a cloth to avoid scratching the toilet walls. Push the hook into the bottom of the toilet until you reach the obstruction, at this point exert light pressure to remove what causes the clog and, once removed, proceed to flush the toilet to let everything go down freely.
Use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner to unclog the toilet
If you have a vacuum cleaner at home suitable for also vacuuming liquids, you can use it to solve your clogged toilet problem. The first step to take is to vacuum all the water present in the toilet. Once this is done, all that remains is to push the vacuum cleaner nozzle to the bottom of the toilet and turn on the vacuum cleaner, to pull away what is blocking the passage of water in your toilet.
Unclog the clogged toilet using a plumbing snake
Another valid method to unclog your toilet is to use a plumbing snake that you can find at any hardware store and which is nothing other than one of the most used methods by plumbers. In this case, you just need to insert the tool up to the point of the clog, make circular movements to crumble the clog until you see the water go down without problems.
Whatever method is chosen to clear your clogged toilet, remember to wear protective rubber gloves to avoid damage to the skin and also remember to thoroughly clean your bathroom periodically, to guarantee a long lifespan for all your sanitary ware.
