Are you having a clogged toilet? Now, before you call on the plumber, you can try first some remedies, where you can just use common tools, solutions or items that you can easily find inside your home.
1. Boiling Water
De-clogging a toilet does not get any easier than this. Just boil up as much water as your kettle will hold and then pour it slowly down the drain in at most 3 stages, allowing the hot liquid to work its magic for several seconds in between each pour.
2. Plunger
The most common way to get rid of toilet stoppage is to plunge it with a rubber flange pulled out to get a better seal. When using the plunger, push it in and out vigorously, while keeping enough water in the bowl to cover it. Remember to wear rubber gloves and keep towels handy, as things can get messy.
3. Liquid Dishwashing Detergent
Simply add a few squirts of liquid dishwashing detergent from your kitchen into your clogged toilet bowl and then follow it up with a pot of hot water. Ideally, the soapiness of the detergent and the weight of the hot water as it is poured into the bowl will help clear out the cause of the clog.
4. Baking Soda and Vinegar
Mix a third of a cup of baking soda with similar amount of vinegar, and by the time the solution fizzes, pour it down the drain. Let it sit for an hour or even overnight if possible and then flush it down with hot water. You see, the fizzing action will help remove hair, gunk and grime that has built up in the pipe.
5. Shampoo and Hot Water
Squirt a generous amount of shampoo into the bowl and follow it up with a bucket of hot water, but not boiling. The reason why you should not use boiling water is that it is believed to cause the toilet bowl to crack. Hopefully, after several minutes, the water level should lower, as hot water had broken up toilet paper quicker, with the shampoo lubricating the passage of solid material that is stuck in the pipe. Repeat the process by adding more shampoo, but lesser in volume than the previous application, until the water will drain freely. While there are other methods of clearing a clog in your toilet, this seems to be a greater approach because you do not have to touch the water.
6. Wire Coat Hanger or Vacuum Cleaner
If all of the solutions mentioned above fail, it would be time to try the wire coat hanger method. Take a regular wire coat hanger, straighten it out and then bend one of its ends over to create a small hook. Push it past the drain cover and use it to start fishing for debris, such as hair and other nasty stuff out of the drain. You can also use a wet and dry vacuum. Set it to be able to vacuum liquids, cover up its vent to prevent a mess, and then create a tight seal for your drain, and you are good to go. With the vacuum cleaner set to its highest setting, it can be powerful enough to draw the clog up the pipe. Run water to clear things up.
Together with the proper treatment of your toilet, these home remedies can help you get rid of your toilet clog.
