Proven methods on how to unclog your toilet yourself at home

A clogged toilet is a common and annoying problem that requires quick fix. You can unclog a toilet using mechanical and chemical methods.

In complex cases that cannot be corrected on your own, you will need the help of a plumber.

In this article we will tell you how to quickly clear a clogged toilet at home.

Reasons for the problem

A clogged toilet needs to be cleaned immediately. The problem is often caused by the following circumstances:

• entry into the drain of foreign objects that interfere with the passage (rags, personal hygiene items, etc.);
• defects in the toilet itself;
• violations in the sewer system;
• improper installation of the structure;
• deposits on the inside of pipes.

Before you start cleaning, you need to determine whether the problem is local, affecting only the toilet, or whether the entire drain system is clogged. To do this, open the taps in the bathroom and sinks and watch how quickly the water drains.

If the water drains quickly, then the problem is only related to the toilet, and you can solve it yourself. Otherwise, professional help will be needed.Violation of the rules for using plumbing is the main cause of blockages.

How to eliminate mechanically?

When choosing a cleaning method, you must take into account that the effectiveness of removing clogs from the drain depends on the following factors:

1. Why is the toilet clogged?
2. Old age of the problem.

If the plug is the result of a foreign object, then you must first remove the water from the bottom of the toilet. For this purpose, you can use rags and sponges.

plunger

A plunger is one of the simplest and therefore popular means of removing blockages in pipes. There are many varieties and modifications of this instrument..

Ordinary

If the blockage is not complete and the water gradually drains away, it just happens slowly, even the most ordinary plunger of a familiar shape will help solve the problem.

When purchasing, you must take into account the toilet model, as not all types of plungers may be suitable. The technology of work is to make forward movements, pressing on the handle and sharply lifting it up.

Simplest The plunger is recommended to be used only in undiagnosed cases, since in case of severe blockage it will not be effective.

Pneumatic

It is much more convenient and effective to use a pneumatic plunger for problems with the toilet. Outwardly, it looks like a hand pump. This device is not only very effective, but also universal - it is suitable for almost any toilet model.

Advantages of pneumatic valves:

• compactness;
• ergonomic shape;
• set of nozzles included;
• ease of use;
• versatility.

Aeration

Aeration models are designed to regulate air in the system. This helps prevent debris from getting stuck in the toilet and drain pipes.

Cables

For complex blockages, it is more effective than a plunger to use a special metal (less often plastic) cable designed for cleaning. It has a fairly simple device and does not require special skills to use. There is a special tip at the end of the device.

Procedure:

1. Free up space around the toilet.
2. Wear personal protective equipment.
3. Prepare a bag for placing the removed waste in it.
4. Insert the cable from the end into the toilet.
5. Rotate the cable using the handle so as to break through the blockage.
6. Remove the cable. There may be debris at the end that needs to be removed and placed in a bag.
7. Wash away any remaining dirt with a stream of water.

After use, the cable should be cleaned and dried. It is better to store it rolled up.

Plastic bottle

In cases where there is neither a cable nor a plunger available, you can use a regular plastic mineral water bottle with a volume of 1.5, 2 or 2.5 liters.

Application procedure:

• The bottom is cut off from an empty bottle with a knife, but the cap is not screwed off;
• lower the bottle with the cut part down;
• turn the bottle without removing it so that a vacuum is formed;
• press the top edge of the bottle with a sharp movement so as to push the blockage further, pushing it into the riser;
• remove the bottle;
• if necessary, repeat the processing.

How to remove using folk remedies?

If you don’t have special household chemicals on hand, you can try to clear the clog with home remedies.

Soda

To remove a blockage caused by pouring fatty foods into the toilet, you can use a soda solution. For this diluted in 2-3 liters of water? packs of soda and pour them into the toilet.

After 3 hours, the blockage should be cleared, since the soda will interact with fatty deposits. For serious blockages and those whose cause is unknown, this method is not suitable due to its poor effectiveness.

Soda and vinegar

To clean, you must perform the following steps:

1. Fall asleep in the toilet? packs of soda.
2. Pour in a bottle of vinegar.
3. Close the drain hole.
4. Leave for 2 hours to act.
5. Pour in hot water.
6. Wait an hour.

The method is quite effective if the cause of the blockage is organic matter or buildup in the pipes.

Soda and salt

Procedure:

• pour 1 cup of soda into a container;
• add 1 cup salt;
• mix;
• fall asleep in the toilet;
• after 5 minutes, pour 1 cup of boiling water in a thin stream;
• leave for several hours to act.

It is recommended to use this method at night.

How to quickly remove with special chemicals?

In stores you can find a large number of pipe cleaning and sewer maintenance products. The drugs are available in various forms and differ in price., exposure time and composition.

Sanox gel Pure stock

The drug is intended for pipes - eliminates odors and blockages. The composition contains surfactants. Suitable for use when organizing sewerage with plastic and cast iron pipes.

Advantages of the product:

• low cost;
• ease of use;
• efficiency;
• price;
• suitable as a means of prevention.

Minuses:

• it takes time to achieve results;
• may not help with serious blockages.

The price, depending on the point of sale, can be up to 100 rubles.

Mr.Muscle active gel

The product is available in liquid form, completely ready for use. For mild blockages, the exposure time is literally a few minutes due to the high concentration of active components. If the water stopper is caked and hardened, Mr. Muscle may need several hours to work.

Advantages:

• high efficiency;
• active composition;
• fast action;
• ease of use.

Minuses:

• caustic composition;
• price;
• For severe blockages it will take several hours.

Price – about 300 rubles for a 0.5 liter bottle. In the same series of products, the manufacturer produces not only gel, but also sachets with powder for removing blockages.

Deboucher

The product is designed to clear sewer blockages. It has a thick form, actively interacts with substances that impede the passage of water, and eliminates odors.

Advantages:

• fast action;
• efficiency;
• safety for all types of pipes.

Cons: high consumption. The cost is about 200 rubles on average.

Calling a plumber: cost

The help of a plumber will be needed in the following cases:

1. I can't handle the problem on my own.
2. There is a general blockage of sewer drains.

Preventive measures

Prevention of occurrence is the following list of measures:

1. Installation of new equipment must be carried out in accordance with all rules.
2. It is unacceptable to throw garbage, cat litter, leftover fatty food, etc. into the toilet.
3. Regular care of your plumbing fixtures and periodic cleaning will help reduce the accumulation of various deposits.
4. Flushing the tank after using the toilet will allow the pipes to be flushed and will prevent sediment from accumulating.
5. If it is necessary to replace pipes, the new ones must be identical in size to the old ones. Plastic is preferable to metal, as it has a smoother surface that is less prone to the formation of deposits and blockages.
6. When carrying out repairs in a toilet room, the toilet lid must be lowered. This will prevent construction debris from accidentally getting inside.
7. At least once a week, the toilet should be cleaned using household chemicals to prevent the formation of sediment and deposits.

5 Don'ts When Cleaning the Toilet

If you discover a clogged toilet, you should remember a number of prohibitions when cleaning. Ignoring them can only cause harm, so it is important to be vigilant.

Such prohibitive measures include:

• You should not arbitrarily increase the rate/concentration of cleaning agents used - if the drug does not help, it is better to replace it with another one;
• when choosing a purchased means of removing blockages, you need to make sure that it is suitable for the type of pipes that are installed;
• you should not use acids and other substances that are not intended to clear blockages in the toilet - they can not only show ineffectiveness, but also harm communications;
• You should not pour white into a toilet with a stopper - it is unlikely to help deal with the blockage, and the caustic fumes from it will interfere with work;
• Even if the cause of the blockage is grease from food debris, the use of dishwashing gel is ineffective, just like Coca-Cola as a cleaning agent, the solution is the use of special products.

Recommendations

Recommendations from plumbers will help you cope with the task cleaning with high quality and without unpleasant consequences:

1. If you discover that the toilet is clogged, you should not try to immediately drain the water from the tank. It must be taken into account that the volume of water contained in it is several liters. If it drains into the bowl, some of it may even splash out onto the floor.
2. If any object accidentally falls into the toilet, for example, a toy, keys, etc., then you should not press the flush, as this may cause a blockage. In this case, you need to put on rubber gloves and take out the item.
3. All pipe cleaning work should be done with rubber gloves, even when traditional methods of clearing blockages are used.
4. It is more convenient for two people to break through a blockage using a cable, when one person rotates using a handle, and the other directs the cable itself to the place of the blockage.

If you're interested in how to clear a clogged drain, sink, or toilet, check out this chapter.

Conclusion

In many cases, you can clear a clogged toilet yourself using homemade recipes, mechanical cleaning and purchased household chemicals. With a small traffic jam, such methods should be effective. But if the problem is more complex and is associated with a general blockage, you cannot do without calling a plumber.