It’s a really good idea to have a plunger in the bathroom the next time the toilet is clogged. The plunger can easily be stored under the sink or in a storage closet, as it’s the fastest way to clear most clogs. What if you don’t have a plunger? Or, did your plunger break and […]

It’s a really good idea to have a plunger in the bathroom the next time the toilet is clogged. The plunger can easily be stored under the sink or in a storage closet, as it’s the fastest way to clear most clogs.

What if you don’t have a plunger? Or, did your plunger break and you didn’t get a chance to replace it? Is there any hope for clearing the clog?

Hot Water

Heat water on your stove and pour a full pot of hot water into the toilet. Surprisingly, this method is successful most of the time! It works even better when used in conjunction with a plunger.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

You might have heard of the recommendation to use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a sink. This fizzing/dissolving solution can sometimes work for a clogged toilet too! You don’t want to recreate your volcano project from elementary school, so be careful with the amount of baking soda and vinegar you combine in the toilet bowl. Start by scooping out a quarter-cup of baking soda and pour into the toilet bowl as close to the drain as possible. Then add an equal amount (quarter-cup) of vinegar. The bubbles and fizzing action should drop down to the clog. Depending on the result, may want to repeat or try a half-cup. Follow it up by pouring a pot full of hot water into the bowl.

You should see improvement. However, if this doesn’t fully clear the clog, repeat the baking soda and vinegar. When it works, you should hear a quick suction sound and then see the water drain naturally. Follow up with hot water and a couple of flushes to be sure it’s cleared.

unclog your toilet chemical free

What Not To Do

Many homeowners will run to the grocery store and purchase a bottle of chemicals that are supposedly “guaranteed” to clear the drain. We do not recommend these products as they are harsh chemicals. They are unsafe and may be corrosive to your plumbing or cause damage to older pipes. They may even cause serious injury if they splash on you or on a technician who comes in to clear the clog. Consumers often report that these drain-cleaning chemicals fail to clear stubborn clogs. In many cases you’re just pouring your money down the drain with these chemicals.

Remember not to use baking soda and vinegar before or after using these drain-cleaning chemicals. It’s impossible to completely clear out all these different components before trying something different… because after all, the drain is clogged!

The Best Solutions

If the hot water and baking soda/vinegar methods fail to unclog your toilet, you should buy yourself a plunger. However, there are times when a clog is so stubborn that only a professional plumber, like Handyside, will be able to clear it completely and quickly. So don’t hesitate to call Handyside if the methods mentioned above fail to clear your clog.

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