How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

demonstration how to unclog toilet without a plunger

If your toilet is backed up, then you need a solution fast. In a pinch, you may have to be resourceful like MacGyver! Here, you will learn how to unclog a toilet without a plunger. If you have a plunger but don't know how to use it, we cover that here. There are several methods for fixing a clogged toilet, so you're likely to have something on hand to get the job done.

How to Unclog a Toilet with Dish Soap

Hopefully, you have the degreasing variety of dish soap on hand because that works best. All you should need is half a cup of dish soap into the bowl and then follow that up with a quart of boiling hot water. The combination of these two elements will attack the clog and break it up so that it flushes. Shampoo or hand soap might get the job done, too, if you don't have dish soap.

Fixing a Toilet Clog with a Wire Hanger

If you're familiar with snake tools, this is basically the same concept but with a makeshift tool as opposed to the real deal. Unfold the hanger like you're trying to break into your car with the keys locked inside. This part is important: wrap a rag or some cloth around the end of it so you don't damage the bowl. Poke the clog until it loosens up.

How to Unclog a Toilet with Baking Soda

This solution will take you back to elementary school science experiments. Prepare a mixture of hot water and white vinegar (two cups of each). Pour one cup of household baking soda into the toilet bowl, then chase it with your water/vinegar solution. If you recall, this is exactly how you made a volcano. Let it sit in the toilet for about half an hour; then, you should be able to flush everything through.

Unclog with Epsom Salt

Adding Epsom salt to the bowl will create a chemical reaction that fizzles in the water, which should help to break things up. In that same vein, a bath bomb will probably suffice.

What If I Don't Have Any of Those on Hand?

Do you have a toilet brush? That might get the job done in place of a wire hanger. The problem with this option is you're probably going to have to toss it in the trash after the fact. It's also possible that if you just let the clog sit for a while, the pressure of the water weight on it will loosen the clog over time, and it will eventually allow you to flush it.

If none of this works, I hope you have a snake tool. If not, it might be time to call in the big guns and get a professional on the job.

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