You already know how to unblock a toilet: grab that plunger, do some plunging … and then call the plumber if a little elbow grease wasn’t the right answer.
But what if you’re not so trigger-happy when it comes to calling a local plumber? Or you don’t have a plunger? The really savvy DIY enthusiasts have a long list of things to try before you need to shout for the big guns – and some of them are so simple and effective they may surprise you!
1. Dish soap
Add hot water and you’re good to go. Could it really be this easy to turn your hopelessly blocked toilet into a fully-flowing throne once again?
Just throw in a quarter to a half a cup of your best dish soap, follow it up with a few *almost* boiling kettles of water, and that simple flush may just be enough.
2. Vinegar
Delicious on your fish and chips, and surprisingly effective as a homemade how to unblock toilet remedy too!
You’ll also need a cup or two of baking soda or bi-carb, which you throw into the bowl and follow up with a cup of white vinegar. Let it bubble and fizz for up to half an hour, hit the full flush a couple of times, and Bob’s Your Uncle.
3. Cling wrap
We’re kidding, right? Cling Wrap?! Seriously, it’s part of an ingenious method that can have ingenious results.
Instead of tightly fixing some cling wrap to the top of last night’s dinner, put a few layers of the clear stuff over the top of your toilet bowl. Hit the flush button, and observe the pressure exerted from within the drain and bowl that is now trapped by the wrap. Push down on the film in the knowledge that you are also pushing pressure down the toilet pipe that can dislodge the blockage.
Amazing!
4. Coat hanger
It’s the toilet-unclogging hero hiding away in your wardrobe – and you’ll be surprised how it can handle even stubborn toilet clogs. Basically, we’re going to create a truly cheap and do-it-yourself plumbing snake.
Just unwind that wire hanger until it’s completely straight, wrap an old rag around the end to prevent it from scratching the precious porcelain, and then:
- Insert the wrapped end into the toilet bowl
- Push down gently into the drain
- Feel for the blockage and then mash up the gunk
- Flush the toilet.
5. Epsom salt
Perhaps you use it for its soothing qualities in the bath, but Epsom salt hides some toilet-unclogging wizardry. While it’s great for soothing sore muscles, the granules are also great for breaking down and dissolving the sort of gunk that backs up toilets – and it will smell great once you’re done, too!
- Boil a full kettle of water
- Let it cool for a few minutes
- Pour a generous amount of Epsom salt into the bowl
- Slowly pour the almost-boiling water in
- Let it sit for 15 minutes
- Flush the toilet to see if the blockage has cleared.
How to unblock a toilet when nothing else works
If you’d never heard of the 3 easy, homemade and surprising remedies above, you may be decidedly unimpressed if they didn’t work. But don’t blame us! It could just be that your toilet blockage is a little more serious, in which case you might like to try a drain snake or repurposed coat hanger. And have you considered a spot of fishing with decent rubber gloves?
But don’t be too down if you really do need to call your trusty local drainage plumber – because some problems lurk deeper, are more complex, and may require actual repairs or even pipe relaying. It could be stubborn tree roots, it may require sophisticated CCTV drain camera equipment, it may be related to water pressure issues or just be a sign of another more comprehensive plumbing problem. There are plenty of blocked toilet causes that will require professional help, so don’t be too glum if you really do need to reach for that phone.
Call Drain Masters Plumbing for a speedy response
No matter what has caused your blocked toilet, rest assured: the Drain Masters can fix it! Here at Drain Masters Plumbing, our experts have seen and unclogged it all, and their vans are always jam-packed with all the technology, tools and products to go with their unrivalled skills, methods & experience.
Get in touch today for a fast response. We offer fast and effective plumbing and drain cleaning services in Brisbane including Capalaba, Alexandra Hill, Wynnum, Wellington Point, Wakerley, Tingalpa, and beyond to the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads and Kingscliff NSW.
