Face it, you never want to find your toilet clogged with poop, especially when you’re expecting guests. The good news is you probably don’t need to call a plumber, at least yet.
You can unclog your poop-filled toilet quickly and easily with one of our four tried-and-true methods. From the old-school plunge to some more subtle approaches, we’ll help you get through that mess in your toilet bowl.
1. How To Plunge a Toilet
Every toilet needs a plunger. Plunging is our go-to method and the easiest way to clear most clogged toilets.
While using a plunger to unclog a toilet is the best way to go, it can also be a little messy. Make sure to wear rubber gloves and spread some towels around the base of the toilet to protect the floor.
Follow these Four Steps
STEP 1: Put the plunger into the water and push down on the handle until you feel the plunger seal with the drain hole. If the plunger doesn’t seal, make sure you’re using a toilet plunger. For best results, we recommend using a flange plunger.
STEP 2: Being careful not to make a mess, grip the handle with both hands and pump up and down continuously on the sealed plunger for about 10 seconds.
STEP 3: Repeat step 3 a few times and then pull the plunger handle quickly toward you to unseal and break up the clog.
STEP 4: After the water’s drained, try flushing. If the toilet flushes normally, you can put the plunger away until the next clog. But if the toilet’s still clogged, try one of our other methods.
Plunging unclogs most poop-filled toilets, but if a plunger doesn’t fix your clog, we recommend using baking soda and vinegar. In combination, baking soda and vinegar can be effective for clogs and won’t harm your hands or damage your drain.
Follow these Steps
STEP 1: Pour a cup of baking soda into the toilet.
STEP 2: Wait a few minutes until the baking soda settles.
STEP 3: Pour a cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl. For the best results, use equal amounts of baking soda and vinegar.
STEP 4: Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes.
STEP 5: Try flushing to test whether the toilet’s unclogged.
3. Use Hot Water and Detergent
If baking soda and vinegar don’t work, try hot water and dish soap, another mixture we’ve had great luck with.
The Process is Simple
STEP 1: Bring about a gallon of water to a boil. While the water’s boiling, squirt some dish soap into the toilet bowl.
STEP 2: After the water’s boiling, pour some water into the bowl.
STEP 3: Let the soapy mixture sit for 20 minutes.
STEP 4: Flush the toilet to see if it’s unclogged.
4. Use a Toilet Snake
A toilet snake has more parts and is more complicated to use than a plunger. You’ll only want to use a snake for clogs that a plunger and methods 2 or 3 don’t fix.
A snake is a stiff, bristly cable that you push through the clogged drain and then pull back out to break up the clog. The cable sits inside a tube covered with rubber so the tool doesn’t damage the toilet bowl.
Follow these Five Steps
STEP 1: Insert the snake into the drain.
STEP 2: Gripping the handle, rotate the toilet snake clockwise while pushing it into the drain. Keep rotating the snake until the entire cable has gone into the drain.
STEP 3: Pull the snake out of the drain by rotating the handle counterclockwise. This should break the clog.
STEP 4: When you’ve completely pulled the snake out of the drain, you should be able to tell whether you’ve unclogged the toilet. If the snake worked its charm, the water should have drained or returned to its normal level.
STEP 5: Do a test flush to make sure everything’s working and clean up before your guests arrive.
We recommend working through these four methods in order. Ideally, a plunger will work for most poop-based clogs. If a plunger doesn’t take care of your clog, methods 2 and 3 use common household items and are relatively easy.
A snake is your last resort, and most people don’t even own one. But if you have a snake, give it a go. If the snake doesn’t do the trick, you may have something other than poop clogging your toilet. For those more serious clogs, always call a plumber.
