It happens to the best of us. You go into the restroom to do your business, but the toilet doesn't cooperate. And after flushing, you're left with what you started with. What to do?
There's more of an art to unclogging a toilet than you might suspect. Over at the delightful
The Art of Manliness blog, a writer claims that because men are no longer needed "to ride out in defense of the tribe," they are now relegated to "do battle in the bathroom." But we women know that the call to unclog a toilet doesn't discriminate -- sometimes
we have to rise to the challenge too.
To ferret out the tips and tricks used by plumbers and civilians alike, we searched through the wisdom at The Art of Manliness,
This Old House,
Planet Green, and various plumbing sites.
Here are some tips if you're the one on clog duty:
• For your first strategy, if the bowl is not already full, try pouring cold water into it, about a gallon or two. Pour it in as quickly as you can without splashing. This will help break up the stuff in the toilet to help you with plunging later on, and it just might unclog it then and there.
• If that doesn't do the trick, try pouring in a mixture of one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar into the bowl. This is a strategy used to unclog blocked drains, as well. However, it will not be effective if the bowl is already full.
• Next, if success has still not arrived, try the hot water and dish soap strategy. Pour about 1/4 cup of dish detergent in the bowl and some hot water (not boiling, or you could crack the china)**. Pour the water slowly into the bowl, directly into the water without splashing yourself.
• Still no luck? It might be time to try a plunger. Of course, this could also be your first line of defense. Use a good-quality plunger with a flange. The flange is the narrow part of the plunger below the cup. If you've got a cheap and flimsy plunger, make it your goal to replace it with a sturdy and high quality plunger as soon as possible.
(Left) This plunger may not have a flange, but we couldn't resist; it's so stylish! Photo: Bobby Berk Home. (Right) This Brasscraft Heavy Duty Plunger is more like it; the flange at the base helps suction effectively. Photo: The Home Depot
• Run hot water over the plunger flange to soften it up. To do good plunging, you need a good seal between the bottom of the plunger and the bottom of the toilet bowl. A softened plunger flange will seal better than a stiff one.
• After you insert the plunger into the bowl and get a good seal, don't just pump it up and down with fury.
Rather, slowly push the plunger down, then pop it up quickly. Why? The reason is that your clog is likely at the very beginning of the narrow channel the waste travels to get into the sewage system. By pumping your plunger, you may be simply compacting the blockage a little further into the channel. By popping it out, the suction will likely pull the clog free, and then it can be flushed away normally.
• If plunging fails, as it sometimes does, you can use what's called a closet auger. This is kind of like a snake that a professional plumber might use, but in this case you never receive the $150 bill in the mail. A closet auger is a cable with a wide end on it that you will use to push the clog through the channel. There is a protective sheath on the cable housing so you don't scratch your porcelain toilet bowl.
If all else fails, and you're out of tricks? Swallow your pride and call the plumber.
How about you? What is your favorite strategy to unclog a toilet?
SEE ALSO:
Coke Can Clean Your Toilet in a Pinch (Lifehacker)
Do You Have a Dual Flush Toilet? (CasaSugar)
** Editor's Note: Thank you to our vigilant DIY Life readers for pointing out that boiling water can potentially crack a porcelain bowl. The author and I would like to emphasize that hot tap water -- as opposed to water boiled in a kettle -- is the best strategy, if you choose this method of unclogging.
Judi Roaman: We Talk Endlessly About the Next President,…
Reader comments (Page 4 of 4)
with all due respect by time you boil mix look around for vinegar and baking soda etc. the plunger would have solved the problem and you would be on your way to do whatever you do in your regiment of chores
ReplyAnd I thought women never clogged toilets.
ReplySilly me...
a full 98% of the fixture clogs are caused by women and their nasty habits of using femine napkins
ReplyThe first comment about adding really really hot water can get you broke up chunks and a cracked bowl, Most bowls are cool if not cold. I thought hot water would be a great thing to get the stickey stuff from a sticker in the bowl. not a good ideal.
ReplyJust read the whole article. Boiling water! I'm not so sure about that. And would never do it again with even hot hot tap water. Would love to hear about the cracked bowls though. Just so I could hjave a good laugh as others did with me
ReplyIs that an old Standard Modernus toilet? I haven't seen them in a long time.
ReplyIf the water doesn't work, the soap doesn't work, the plunger won't work. You can buy a bottle of sulfuric acid at Walmart or any hardware store. That usually will eat anything except, say, kids toys, dixie cups. It will even dissolve the tampon. It won't harm the plumbing either. Be careful that you wear gloves, watch out for back splash and do not let it sit longer than 30 minutes in a toilet.
ReplyWhat a bunch of crap!
ReplyI recently went to Italy and was amazed at a funny grinding noise when I flushed the toilet in the rental apartment. There are box-like gadgets connected to the sides of the toilets over there. I can only liken it to a garbage disposal for crap. But it works. It grinds up waste before it is flushed away. Ingenious!!
ReplyEat more prunes and you won't have hard turds.
ReplyEat more fiber, fruits, and veggies then there are no problems. No more than 3 squares of toilet paper or 5 squares for the fat azzes.
ReplyBe creative and simply use the toilet at a local restaurant. Leave the ungodly mess spewing from the toilet for the minimum wage employee to clean-up while maintaining a state of dignity as you rapidly vacate the facility smirking with delight.
ReplyThat's the craziest thing I've ever heard. If you keep loosening those bolts and shaking the toilet the wax seal will start leaking and that clog will be on your floor. Just use the plunger but remember to keep your mouth closed in case it splashes.
ReplyUSE some money and buy the drano or other quality brand of anti clogging solvent and pour it in...takes less than a couple of hours and problem is taken care of safely and without any hassles...
Replyi take dawn detergent, and put a few healthy squirts in the bowl, then i take a gallon of hot tap water, and pour that in. i leave that mixture for about a half an hour, come back and flush. this method has worked about 95 percent of the time for the past 20 years.
ReplyAgain, I will attempt to contribute my side of the story about "country toilets",,,,,,,,It is a good
Replyidea to learn about how the underground drainage piping is shaped (joined by right angles
and horseshoe shaped archs and /or terraced pipelines).Some building contractors seem to
still intall the draining pipelines at right angles,from what I have been told. As your landlord if
you happen to be renting!! A terraced pipeline is easier to snake out than a pipeline that is
joined at right angles. Dont use too much toilet paper as it can clog up fast over time ,especially
in pipelines with right angled joints in it. Snaking out is one of the better methods I find.( Every now
and then, you will have to replace the waxed gasket ,otherwise the water can seep out from
under the toilet if it is clogged up. )
Barb (4-28-2010 @ 10:49 PM), you are absolutely correct. Pouring hot water into the cold water of most any porcelain bowl runs the risk of cracking it. After speaking to a Manager at WSSC (Water Treatment for Wash. D.C. & surrounding areas in MD & VA), I was informed to just close the door and let everything soften for a while despite the consequences. If plunging does not work, DO NOT pour chemicals ANYWHERE as they will not only kill all of the 'Good Guys' in your septic tank or public drainage, but chemicals will eventually make it down to the water table. If you live anywhere around here or in similar environs, from Good Families to politicians, anyone can begin contracting cancer from this very easily.
ReplyFor those suggesting you call a plumber, I think you're missing the point to avoid the outrageous bill and the thought having a plumber's crack burned into your retina! I live in an old building in San Francisco with VERY old pipes. We often have problems with the toilet and have tried all the above mentioned remedies. The top 3 that work for us is 1.DISHWASH SOAP (Hot water is generally not necessary but be generous with the amount you use.) 2. OLD FAITHFUL - The Plunger (Don't buy a cheap non-flanged one either, they just don't work....I've never had to warm one up but it sounds worth a try and certainly wouldn't hurt.) 3. Buy an AUGER or "Toilet Snake" as they're often called. (You can get a cheap one for under 30 dollars that will turn you into a pro-plumber in no time flat!) Thank you for your help Kathy and good luck to everyone with problems! Peace.
ReplyHere's a little or a lot of food for thought. If you or your guests are considerate enough to leave you a gift that runneth your bowl over, Hang a sign across from the throne that clearly states, if you are going to pinch a loaf that requires me calling a plumber, PLEASE flush the unit twice! Once halfway through and again at the time of completion. If you have a lot of LARGE friends you might consider installing a disposal unit between the bowl and the pipe. Don't forget to install the switch, to trip the disposal when the water level is less than acceptable. Better yet tell them the toilet is "out of order", and hand them a roll of TP and send them to the woods. That way you have NO problems, and they don't end up with poison ivy or poison oak in BAD places.
ReplyThis is the funniest article I have ever read - so many ways to call 'poop' and the comments from Jim and his plastic knives and the 2 from Julie - I have had a 'GOOD LAUGH ' - this should run again for people who maybe have missed it . FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY! Eat apple sauce every day and beans and you would not have any of this trouble.
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