Get things in working order with these mess-proof ideas.
Plunger Alternative: Start With Dish Soap
Plunging a clogged toilet is no fun, but there’s a better way. To unclog a toilet without a plunger, head to the kitchen for some dish soap. The slippery soap should help lubricate the clogged pipe and allow the lodged debris to slide down more easily.
Pour about a half-cup into the toilet. If you’re out of dish soap, chop a bar of hand soap into small chunks and drop the pieces into the toilet.
Just Wait it Out
Sometimes, all you need to do is wait. This method requires nothing but patience (and perhaps a second bathroom). The water in your toilet exerts pressure on the clog in the drain as it attempts to leave. Over time, the pressure could dislodge the clog on its own. Be prepared to wait for as long as overnight, though. Additionally, you should be ready to stop the flow of water if you attempt to flush the toilet the next day and the clog is still there.
Add Hot Water
If dish soap alone doesn’t do the trick, adding water might move things along. Fill a bucket with the hot bath water (boiling water could cause a porcelain toilet to crack) and pour the water into the toilet from waist level. The force of the water could dislodge whatever is causing the clog.
Use a Plastic Bottle to Create Water Pressure
Warning: This unclogging trick could get messy.
Start by removing as much water from the toilet bowl as possible; you can do this by repeatedly filling a small container with toilet water and pouring the water into a bucket. Next, fill a large plastic bottle with warm water.
Place your thumb over the top of the bottle and fit the top end of the bottle into the outlet at the bottom of the toilet. (You’ll want to wear rubber gloves for this step.) Remove your thumb and squeeze the bottle so the water inside shoots down the pipe. The added pressure could dislodge whatever was causing the clog
DIY a Drain Snake Using a Wire Hanger
A more severe blockage could require manually moving the item. To do this without a plunger, unravel a wire coat hanger until it’s straight. Push one end of the wire into the clogged area.
Plunger Alternative: Baking Soda Mixture
As an alternative to using dish soap and no plunger, try this all-natural solution. Pour one cup baking soda and two cups vinegar into the toilet. Allow it to fizz for a half hour. If the clog doesn’t dissipate, try the hot water trick.
Plunger Alternative: Squirt Gun Toilet Drainer
If you decide to drain your toilet bowl before dealing with the clog, here’s a unique tip to get the water out.
“When you’re repairing or replacing a toilet, you need to remove all the water. Simply shutting off the water supply and flushing won’t do it. A sponge works, but it’s kind of slow. So I use an old squirt gun to suck the water out and squirt it into a bucket, leaving just the last few drops to sponge out.” —Reader Dale Conklin.
Epsom Salt
If you’re ever at the house of a friend or family member and a clog happens, you might not want to let them know what happened, at least not right away. In this case, you probably don’t have the time to wait for hot water and soap to work. Instead, take a look around to see if you can find any Epsom salt. Not everyone has this on hand, but if you find it, it’s worth a shot. The salt creates a fizzy reaction when it’s added to water and should help to break things up to clear the clog. If you don’t find Epsom salts, a bath bomb can do the trick as well. If you do use a bath bomb, just make sure that you replace it later.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar is a great mixture that does a whole lot more than make a cool volcano. This mixture makes an incredible cleaner for many different types of surfaces. It can also help to eliminate toilet clog. First, pour about a cup of baking soda right into the toilet bowl. Spread it around so that it covers as much surface area as possible and let it sink. Next, add about two cups of vinegar. Pour the vinegar slowly and in a circular motion so that it disperses more evenly around the toilet. As the vinegar begins to mix with the baking soda, fizzing will start to happen, which should then start to break up the clog. Let the mixture sit for about an hour before you try to flush. If the first attempt doesn’t work, use the same amounts of baking soda and vinegar but let it work overnight.
A Toilet Brush
If you don’t have any wire hangers (because not everyone does), you could sacrifice your toilet brush (at least they’re affordable). Force the brush into the drain hole and move it back and forth vigorously. Don’t use too much force, though. You don’t want to cause any damage to your toilet. You may want to get changed before you attempt this method and make sure that you put on some rubber gloves and some goggles. Once you’re done, discard the toilet brush and invest in a new one.
Dish Duty
If you need to kick the unclogging process up a notch, borrow some dish soap from the kitchen and squeeze a generous amount, about a 1/4 cup should do, into the toilet bowl. Let the soap sit for 5 to 10 minutes so it has time to move down the drain and reach the clog. Then, add hot water (again, not boiling water) to the bowl and give it some time to sit. In most cases, the dish soap will act as a lubricant and grease the clog in the toilet drain to get everything moving again.
