How To Unblock Toilet Without A Plunger?

How do I unblock my toilet without a plunger? A plunger is your best friend when a toilet clog happens. It gets scary when you have a clog and don’t have a plunger handy. Luckily, all is not lost in this situation, as there are many alternative ways you can unblock a toilet without a plunger.

1. Just wait

Sometimes, you will have just to wait until the clog goes away. The water in your toilet bowl puts pressure on the clog and forces it to continue its way down the drain. It usually works with small clogs. Bigger ones require bigger solutions.

2. Baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are present in any kitchen. The nice thing about using a mixture of these products is that you both unclog and clean the toilet. Add first a cup of baking soda all over the toilet bowl.

Follow up with two cups of vinegar and enjoy the fizzing breaking up the clog. Let the mixture sit for an hour to ensure the drain gets totally cleared.

3. Hot water

Another way of unblocking the toilet is using hot water. Fill up a bucket with plain water and heat it up. Keep in mind, water should be hot, but not boiling. Boiling water can make the toilet bowl crack. Gently pour the heated water into the toilet. The high temperature will break down the clog, clearing your drain.

4. Dish soap

If hot water alone can’t remove the blockage, add dish soap to it. Soap will add cutting power and help break down large grease accumulations. You can pour one cup of dish detergent into it.

Then follow up with a bucket of hot water. Don’t flush for 30 minutes, as the mixture needs time to take effect. For larger clogs, you’ll have to let the mixture sit for a couple of hours and even overnight.

5. Epson salt

Epson salt is a great solution when you don’t have time to wait for dish soap to remove the clog. Just add a handful of Epson salt in the toilet bowl and let the fizzy reaction break up the clog. Alternatively, you can use a bath bomb which is also effective at clearing the toilet.

6. Drain cleaners

While quite effective, drain cleaners can hurt the integrity of your plumbing system. Of course, you can use them once in a blue moon. But if you struggle with frequent toilet clogs, better keep away from drain cleaners.

Using them often may lead to chemical burns of the drainage, as well as structural damage. Not to mention the negative health impact harsh chemicals can have on you and your family members. If you use a drain cleaner, don’t forget to wear rubber gloves to protect your skin.

7. Wire hanger

If the clog is stubborn, you can go for tougher weapons. You can prove ingenious by turning a wire hanger into a toilet snake. Straighten out the hanger. If its edge is pointy, wrap a rag around it to prevent damaging the toilet.

Introduce the DIY snake into the toilet and shake it to break the clog down. Feel free to use some force if the clog refuses to give up. Still, too much force is not welcome as it can bring damage to the toilet.

8. Toilet brush

A toilet brush is a method of last resort in case you lack the above-mentioned products. Don’t proceed before wearing rubber gloves. Once the gloves are on, you can grab your weapon and start the fight. Push the brush into the toilet and try to find the clog.

As you find it, move the brush back and forth to loosen it. The toilet brush may prove pretty effective at unclogging. However, you should be aware that it gets unable for further use afterward. Once you finish the dirty work, you should dispose of it and buy a new one.

How To Unblock Toilet Without A Plunger? – Closing thoughts

In case a plunger is not on hand, you can unclog the toilet in other ways. A mixture of hot water and dish soap may deal with small blockages and even larger grease clogs. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda also cuts the clog; just as well as an Epson salt shot does. If you are short of these products, you can make a toilet snake out of a wire hanger.