How to Unclog a Blocked Toilet Without a Plunger

1. How to Unclog a Blocked Toilet Without a Plunger Imagine your toilet acting up in the middle of a house party—a Saturday night when all the shops are closed and building maintenance won’t be available until the next morning. Disaster! Unless you have a plumber friend you can call for help and ask for advice on some good ​clogged toilet solutions​, you’re alone in the predicament with just your toilet drain cleaner—and you’d be lucky if you have a toilet plunger handy. But what happens when you’re out of these things? Short of hanging an ‘out of order’ sign on your bathroom door, here is a simple solution that you could try your hand at to save the night: If you’re out of toilet drain cleaner and a trusty plunger is nowhere in sight, you might be able to clear a minor clog with these simple steps. But before anything else, check that the clogged toilet isn’t overflowing and has enough room to hold some extra water. This method will only work if you have enough space in the toilet. Search your cabinets for: 1. ​Surfactants or any type of cleaner that produces a good amount of suds (dishwashing liquid, liquid soap, shampoo and the like) 2.​​A good-size basin or bucket to transport water to your toilet

2. You’ll also need hot (not boiling) water to help loosen up the clog so make sure to have a good amount of pre-boiled water ready for action, or if your hot tap gets warm enough, fill a bucket straight from your faucet. With all these in check, you’re ready. Step 1: Get your bottle of liquid soap or shampoo and begin squirting a generous amount of product into your clogged toilet bowl. Follow this with a bucket of hot water and fill the toilet without overflowing it. Refrain from using boiling water as this could cause your porcelain bowl to crack. Let the hot water and shampoo/liquid soap sit in the toilet for a few minutes. Step 2: Return to the toilet to see if the water has lowered significantly. You’ll know the trick worked if this happens. Hot water helps clogs to disintegrate much quicker (it breaks up toilet paper faster than cold water) while the soap and suds help lubricate passage of any other solid material that’s causing the clog. If upon waiting a few minutes and nothing has changed, wait a few more minutes for the clog to clear or repeat the process by bailing out some water and adding more soap. Repeat the process until change is evident and your toilet water flows freely down the drain. Test the water flow by giving your toilet a good flush and you’re done. Clearing toilet clogs can be as simple as pouring product into your toilet and waiting for the clog to dissolve. The key is not panicking over minor blockage and keeping a good ​toilet drain cleaner handy for these situations. You don’t always have to call in a plumber to fix simple clogs in the bathroom if you keep these tips and tricks in mind.