Your toilet is clogged, but you’ve lost your plunger, or you don’t have one. Your first thought is to reach for a commercial drain cleaner. However, a commercial drain cleaner only adds to the problem because most homeowners use too much which can damage pipes or rubber parts, and it is harmful to the skin. Try these methods to unclog toilet without a plunger instead.
Dish Soap
Dish soap is among the tried and true methods when you don’t have a plunger. Pour a half cup of dish soap or chunks of melted bar soap the toilet and let it stand several minutes. If the toilet is still clogged, pour hot water, but not boiling, into a bucket or other container, and pour it into the toilet. Attempt to flush the toilet, and repeat the procedure if needed.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Try this method when the bowl is half full, or adjust the water level. Slowly pour two cups of vinegar followed by a cup of baking soda into the toilet, let it stand for about an hour, and try flushing. It should produce a fizzing action to break the clog. Add a gallon of hot water if the water level is low.
Snake or Wire Method
Unbend an old coat hanger until it from the hook until it is straight, and wrap a cloth around the hook end to avoid scratching the toilet. Keep feeding the hook it into the toilet until you feel a blockage and try to dislodge it. If it doesn’t work, the clog may be too far away for it to reach, so try a snake. A snake is a wire device sold at most home improvement stores that you insert down into the toilet by unwinding the handle until you hit the clog, and then you unwind it.
Create Pressure
Only try this step when everything else fails and wear rubber gloves because it may get messy. Remove water as much water as you can from the toilet bowl with an old plastic container. Fill a plastic bottle with warm water, and hold your thumb over the opening. Set the bottle into the outlet opening located on the bottom of the toilet. Remove your thumb, gently squeeze the bottle to exert pressure into the pipe to possibly dislodge the blockage. You may need to repeat the method.
Sometimes, the clog is too stubborn for DIY methods to work. In this case, you will likely need a plumber to fix it.
