how to unclog a toilet without a plunger

How Can You Unclog a Toilet without a Plunger?

Few things are as frightening as witnessing the water in a toilet bowl gradually rise after a flush, but nearly everyone will eventually experience a toilet clog, which is a fairly common plumbing emergency. 

Sadly, because these unpleasant clogs are common, you might have to deal with one at an inconvenient time, such as when you don’t have a plunger or access to a chemical drain cleaner.

The good news is that there are multiple methods on how to unclog a toilet without a plunger, and you can do it without using chemicals or a plunger, which you should avoid anyway as they can harm your septic system and pipes. 

how to unclog a toilet without a plunger

We spoke with several cleaning specialists, who provided us with seven secure techniques you could use at any time.

How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger?

There are a few simple methods you can attempt. While none of these methods use a conventional plunger, they are all successful in clearing unforeseen obstructions.

1. Add Hot Water

You’ll need to drain some of the water first if the toilet is filled. Fill the bowl with one gallon of hot water, then leave it there. 

The porcelain may shatter when boiling water is added, but this is an efficient way to loosen and dissolve the obstruction. Attempt to clear the obstruction.

2. Try Dish Soap

Fill your toilet with half a cup of liquid dish soap. Soak in the build-up. Dish soap soaking is comparable to soaking accumulation on pots and pans before washing them. Clear the obstruction.

3. Create a Toilet Snake

Make your toilet snake out of a wire hanger if you don’t already have one that is flexible enough to reach into the plumbing.

Slide the hanger’s end into the drain after unfolding it. To agitate anything obstructed in its path, plunge and twist the metal.

Using a water bottle instead of a plunger, unclog a toilet. To unclog a toilet drain, blow air through it with a large water bottle.

4. Force Airflow

To force air into the pipes, use an empty plastic bottle and a barometer, just like you would with a real toilet air blaster.

Since two-liter soda bottles can hold more air and are wide enough to cover the drain hole, start with larger bottles.

Squeeze the bottle hard and fast after inserting it upside down into the clogged toilet’s drain. The obstruction will be disrupted by the air pushing into the pipes.

5. Use Baking Soda and Vinegar

Both vinegar and baking soda can dissolve clogs that are hidden from view while also cutting through dirt for general cleaning.

Vinegar and baking soda can be used to unclog a toilet. Pour one cup of measuring baking soda into the toilet.

After that, add two cups of white vinegar to the baking soda to cause a fizzy chemical reaction. You might notice a drop in the water level as it fizzes and circulates throughout the bowl, signifying that the obstruction is clearing.

Advice: Before adding white vinegar, make sure the toilet bowl is at least halfway full of water to prevent making your very own science fair volcano.

6. Try Store-Bought Cleaners

The majority of powerful cleansers can effectively remove clogs from toilets but be advised that the clogged toilet might need to remain that way for several hours or even overnight. 

Naturally, you should always make sure to select septic-safe products if you have a septic tank. Typical items that you might need to have on hand are:

Reasons Why You Could Have a Clogged Toilet

how to unclog a toilet without a plunger

Here are some reasons why you could have a clogged toilet: 

Hard Water

You have hard water if the water in your home contains more minerals than usual. Hard water typically ruins your plumbing system and interferes with the toilet’s regular operation. 

Hard water’s mineral content can cause calcification and produce a white residue that is challenging to remove. It will result in a blockage that clogs the toilet.

Flushing The Wrong Items Down The Toilet

The most frequent cause of a clogged toilet is foreign objects being flushed down the drain.

Wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, and other bathroom or household waste are still frequently flushed down the toilet by homeowners. 

These foreign materials, in contrast to toilet paper, do not dissolve and create blockages when they come into contact with other materials that are forced down the pipes.

Foreign Items Accidentally Being Flushed

Anyone who has children will know that there are many unexpected thought patterns, especially during the toddler years. 

The dinosaur toy is not supposed to be in the toilet bowl. You wouldn’t believe what we’ve unintentionally “flushed.”

 Maybe it will get to the halfway point of the S bend, but no farther. Until we get there, your child may occasionally flush something without telling you, and the obstruction is for unknown reasons.

Worn-out Pipes

The plumbing system in your home is susceptible to pipe breakage, cracking, or crushing for several reasons, including corrosion, heavy rainfall, abrupt temperature swings, and normal wear and tear. 

The toilet’s drainage system slows down as pipes deteriorate and cannot keep up with the growing household demands. This may be the cause of your clogged toilet issue.

Tree Root Infestation

Tree roots can enter your plumbing system through even the tiniest hairline crack in your sewage pipes. Because of the nutrient-rich water, they can grow significantly in a short period. 

The tree root network can get so big that it completely obstructs your pipes as it grows.

As a result of having nowhere else for the waste to go, you will eventually notice clogs in your toilet and experience waste coming up through the toilet again.

How to Prevent a Clogged Toilet

how to unclog a toilet without a plunger

Trash cans aren’t what toilets are. Toilet paper is the only item you should be using in your toilet.

It is best to flush products sparingly, even those such as wipes that label themselves as “flushable.”

At all costs, refrain from flushing the following frequently flushed items to maintain a clean toilet:

  • Paper towels
  • Feminine products
  • Baby wipes
  • Condoms
  • Cotton swabs
  • Cotton balls
  • Floss picks
  • Bandages
  • Diapers
  • Contact lenses

Perhaps! The clog may clear itself if you are unable to get a plumber to come out right away and you are unable to do it yourself. 

It truly depends on the nature of the obstruction and its size.

Although the clog will eventually dissolve due to the decomposition of organic materials, it is best not to rely on that. 

When possible, act right away because you probably don’t know how serious the issue might be.

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