DIY to unclog a toilet

Dawn Kolberg
by Dawn Kolberg
I need to unclog my toilet, how can I do it?
  22 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 22, 2016
    Have you tried a plunger?
  • William William on Aug 22, 2016
    Yep! Plunging is first!
  • Poppy Poppy on Aug 23, 2016
    Washing soda and boiling water works wonders on most clogs, try 1 cup washing soda into the bowl followed by a kettle full of boiling water, [do not lean over the bowl when pouring the water] it is also great for clearing grease from the kitchen drains. Make sure it is washing soda, though baking soda can also work.
  • Elsje Elsje on Aug 23, 2016
    if nothing helps, try the flylady, gun, works wonders
  • Michelle Michelle on Aug 23, 2016
    1 cup baking soda and two cups of vinegar let it work, then use plunger
  • Rosemary Kelly Rosemary Kelly on Aug 23, 2016
    Plunger. If it's past that, try a snake. They're relatively inexpensive.
  • Fran Fran on Aug 23, 2016
    THIS HAS NEVER FAILED FOR ME.......Grab your toilet brush and a plastic supermarket shopping bag. Put the brush inside the plastic bag and thrust it in and out of the toilet at the bottom exit where its blocked up. Works every time for me after just 3 ot 4 thrusts!
  • Jennie Lee Jennie Lee on Aug 23, 2016
    I have read that the first thing to try is simply a little dish detergent. Put a few squirts in, wait a while, and flush.
  • Susan Susan on Aug 23, 2016
    This cannot be a serious question...
    • K Jones K Jones on Aug 23, 2016
      It likely is-One must try to remember, everyone is new-to-the-game at one point in life and everyone hasn't been exposed to home issues and how to deal with them. ;) I was fortunate to have learned such from my grandparents
  • Bobbie Bobbie on Aug 23, 2016
    We just give it a good squirt of dawn dish soap let set for a couple minutes and bye bye clog!!
  • Elsje Elsje on Aug 23, 2016
    First of all, i live in The Netherlands, but i clean my house as the fly lady does, check out her site, Flylady.net. There you can find the clog gun. I love that site
  • Dorothy Pugh Dorothy Pugh on Aug 23, 2016
    1) Plunge. Doesn't work? 2) Like Bobbie said, give it a good dose of Dawn and a bit of time. Still not working? 3) Boil a big pot of water. Turn the heat off and let it cool for a couple of minutes, then pour it into the toilet. 4) If that doesn't clear it, let it sit overnight with another bit of Dawn poured in. Next morning, use the next-to-boiling water again. This is as far as I've had to go! Good luck!
  • Nancy Jenkins Nancy Jenkins on Aug 23, 2016
    Try this item called Zip-It. There are two holes, it could be the little one must clear it. Then if you have a mechanical snake feed it down the bigger main hole. Although could go for the old fashioned plunger. Quick plunges, good for the arms and shoulders.
  • Molly F Molly F on Aug 23, 2016
    I pour some dishwasher detergent in to the toilet and let it sit then as I try to flush I immediately pour in a pitcher of very hot water - work every time
  • 1mort2deuce 1mort2deuce on Aug 23, 2016
    we quickly dump a gallon bucket of water(not hot) down it. You may have to try this a couple of times. Works nearly every time!
  • Donna Donna on Aug 23, 2016
    Don't use a metal snake. It will scratch the toilet...
  • Eileen B. Eileen B. on Aug 23, 2016
    Our daughter used liquid plumber it worked. You do have to be careful what you use especially if you are on a septic system
  • Mid2739409 Mid2739409 on Aug 23, 2016
    Let Dawn ( blue) detergent set in it for about 1/2 to an hour then flush.
  • Deanna Nassar Deanna Nassar on Aug 23, 2016
    First thing for me is plunger. Be sure you get the one with the part that folds in It's usually black. Be sure the piece is facing outward and that part goes into the exit hole at bottom. Be sure there's enough water to cover so you have some suction. Push and pull a few times then pull out of the way. You can also combine with the detergent. If it does not work go with the bucket of hot water. Just don't dump too fast and overflow the toilet. It it gets to be a constant problem call a place like RotoRooter. If you have a lot of trees a root could have gotten into the pipe. If you don't know already find out where the main clean out is, main cut off for house lines, and if you have septic system or sewer hook-up. I've been through about every problem a house can throw at you. Oh and look for a good all round home repair book that can give you advice on fix its.
  • Phil a Phil a on Aug 23, 2016
    First thing to do is figure out where the clog is. If the bathtub is also backing up, the clog is further down the drain line and you'll need to call someone to snake the line through the cleanout cap, or remove the toilet and go through the closet drain. If only the toilet is clogged, but drains slowly, it's probably an obstruction in the gas trap curve in the porcelain. I've found things as small as Q-Tips that stopped it up, by catching flushed paper. If a plunger doesn't work (I always tell people to have plenty of water in the bowl and work the plunger like you're churning butter... up and down fast and hard so you can get the slug of water moving back and forth to loosen the clog) then you'll have to reach in to feel for any obstructions, or use an inspection mirror and flashlight to look up into the siphon tube and spot any obstructions. If you find something, you might be able to use a hook made for a wire coat hanger to grab it out. If not, you'll need to pull off the toilet and check from the bottom, but first look down the closet drain and look for obstructions. Pour a small bucket of water down the closet drain to make sure it drains down... if it drains freely, the clog is surely in the toilet. Look from the bottom, find it and remove.. Not fun. Make sure you put a new wax ring down after the toilet is unclogged. Phil
  • Ken Kempker Ken Kempker on Aug 24, 2016
    If al else fails, go to your local rental store, and rent a closet auger. It's a hand operated device, rental store can show you how to use.
  • IFortuna IFortuna on Aug 24, 2016
    If roots are causing the problem a copper treatment may be needed. Ask at your home improvement store. I would not use drain cleaner. It may ruin the plumbing. : )