5 Ways to Unclog a Toilet

They happen to our best people. Toilet clogs are just a fact of life. Although your trusted local plumber will always be at your service, this is usually a job you can take care of yourself. All you need is some household goods and a little know-how.

adventure

If you don't have a plunger in your house, a blocked toilet is the way the universe tells you it's time to buy one. If your toilet overflows, there is a plunger at hand to keep you from flooding the bathroom. Take advantage of this opportunity to choose a durable rubber plunger with flange, which is more effective for water closets.

To ensure a good seal, you can apply a little vaseline to the edge of the plunger. Just make sure it fits tightly at the bottom of the bowl and that the top of the plunger is submerged. Add more water if necessary. Dive as hard as you can without splashing. With luck, you will soon flush again.

Model volcano method

Don't worry, it won't explode - but the ingredients that make the model volcano magic, baking soda and vinegar can also be good toilet cleaners. It's cheaper and milder than chemical cleaners, and the key ingredients may now be in your closet.

Boil a large pot of water and let it cool for five minutes. Add a cup of baking soda to the toilet, and then add two cups of vinegar. Pour in water, taking care not to overflow the bowl, and let the mixture work for several hours. If the clogs prove not too hard, you can resume business.

Become slippery

A variant of the model volcano method uses liquid detergent to move objects. As before, heat a large pot of water and let it cool slightly. While waiting, spray a large amount of liquid detergent into the bowl and let it settle down.

Pour water, making sure to pour it at least a foot above the bowl - you want the power of the water to push things through your soap outlet. With luck, the clogs will slip.

Take snake

If you can touch the pipe snake, you have what you need to solve some of the most stubborn clogs. There are differences between the models, but the basic concept is common - send the flexible end of the snake into the toilet drain pipe until it encounters a blockage, and then twist the snake handle to break down and remove the blockage.

Just make sure you don't use snakes that are too big for your toilet and take some time to extract the flexible end. Take it out too quickly and you may spill dirty water all over the bathroom.