Lifestyle

How To Effectively Unblock A Clogged Toilet At Home

Homeowners often take many things for granted, like the fact that toilets flush as required. However, you can suddenly come under a lot of pressure and discomfort when your toilet becomes clogged unexpectedly. According to a survey by Kohler Co., there are about 28 million clogged toilets in America every month. Thankfully, you can restore your toilet to its usual free-flowing state in minutes with a few useful tips and tricks. If you wish to learn more about unblocking a clogged toilet, consider the points below.

  1. Use a plunger

Many experts agree that plungers are one of the essential plumbing tools that every homeowner should own. A plunger is often the best way to unclog your toilet, so having one is non-negotiable if you want to navigate toilet plumbing disasters successfully. There are different types of plungers, but those with flanges are best designed to unclog toilets. To unclog your toilet, you can put your plunger in the toilet bowl and push it down until you get a good seal. Then, pump your plunger up and down with a bit of force while maintaining the seal. Finally, pull your plunger up to break the air seal. The toilet water should rush down the drain at this point, and you should repeat these steps if the clog remains. 

  1. Mix baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are trusted, non-toxic household helpers you can use for cleaning surfaces and keeping your drains running smoothly. Also, you can turn to these two substances for assistance with a clogged toilet, particularly if you don’t have a plunger or other plumbing tool handy. You can begin by pouring a cup of baking soda into the clogged toilets. After two minutes, slowly pour two cups of vinegar into the toilet. The baking soda and vinegar will react, resulting in a natural, bubbly chemical reaction that will loosen the clog. However, reaching out to an emergency plumbing service is worth considering if your toilet starts overflowing.

  1. Try dish soap and hot water

You can also borrow some dish soap from your kitchen and use it with hot water to unblock your clogged toilet. For starters, heat about a gallon of hot water on the stove, and squirt your dish soap into the toilet while waiting for the water to heat up. Then, carefully pour the water into the toilet when it is hot but not boiling, and wait for some minutes. The dish soap will lubricate the clog while the hot water softens it, so your toilet should be unclogged and flushing freely after several minutes.

  1. Use a plumbing snake

Plumbing snakes, like plungers, are also handy tools every homeowner should own for plumbing emergencies. Normal plumbing snakes can damage porcelain toilets, so stick to toilet or closet snakes, also called augers. These augers have a rubber coating that won’t scratch your toilet, protecting the porcelain. To use a plumbing snake for your clogged toilet, first, place its head in the toilet bowl. Then, turn its handle clockwise, and rewind the snake when you feel resistance. You can flush the toilet to see if the clog is gone. If it is still present, rewind the auger and repeat until the clog is loosened and the toilet flushes freely.

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