Clearing Toilet Clogs Without a Plunger

If you’ve ever tried to deal with a clogged toilet without a plunger on hand to assist you, you know the panic that can be associated with this. The plunger is the simple device that most people know how to use to clear up basic clogs, and it can be stressful to attempt this process without one.

At Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, on top of our basic pipe and drain system services, we can also help with simple questions like these. Here are a few alternative methods for clearing up a toilet clog even if you don’t have a plunger available.

Dish Soap

Dish soap is specifically made to break down certain elements, including grease and food waste, and while it’s not necessarily made for toilet clogs, it can have some helpful qualities here as well. This is one process where you’ll need to have a bit of time available, but it’s very simple if you do.

Simply squeeze at least one full cup of dish soap (more for tough clogs) into the toilet bowl, then allow it to sit and sink in for 30 to 40 minutes. Before you leave, make note of the water level in the bowl – if this level is lower by the time you get back, it’s a sign that the soap has begun to work on the clog. You can usually flush in this situation and see where things stand.

Hot (Not Boiling) Water

Those parentheses to title this section are important, and that’s because there’s a very big difference between using hot water and boiling water on your toilet. The former, standard hot water that has not reached a boil, will help melt away certain kinds of blockages and can provide a quick alternative to a plunger.

The latter, however, or water that’s fully at boil point, is prone to cracking the ceramic of your toilet bowl. Instead of a cleared toilet, you’ll be dealing with a clog and a broken piece of porcelain, plus significant water damage in some cases.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt has a few specific uses in the house, and one of these that some people aren’t aware of is to help clean a clogged toilet. In particular, it’s known to create a fizzy reaction when you pour it into a toilet bowl, one that will help clear up many kinds of drain clogs if you leave it for about 15 minutes.

Toilet Brush

If everything else here has failed, you can use the toilet brush as your final resort. Holding the handle, push the brush into the drain and begin to push and pull – don’t use too much pressure, as you can damage the drain, but use enough to disrupt a basic clog. Always wear gloves and old clothes here, as this process can be a little grimy.

For more on ridding yourself of a toilet clog without a plunger, or to learn about any of our plumbing services, speak to the pros at Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.