What to Use to Unclog a Toilet

2. Add very hot water.

Once the soap or shampoo is in place, you need to activate it. You can do so by adding very hot water to the toilet. Boiling water should be avoided. Use about 1 gallon of hot water for best results.

3. Unravel a wire hanger.

After 10-30 minutes, you should begin seeing improvements in toilet functionality. If you do not, then you may need to dislodge the clog manually. If you don’t have a plunger or a toilet snake, you can use a wire hanger to get the job done. Unravel it and then gently slide it through the bowl opening. Move it up, down, and side-to-side to remove any debris that is sticking to the toilet trap.

4. Use acidity to break apart tough clogs.

If you still can’t get the toilet unclogged, you can try adding some standard vinegar to the bowl or use a fair amount of baking soda. Once added, use another gallon of very hot water for activation and then wait another 10-30 minutes for it to begin working. Repeat with the wire hanger to dislodge any part of the clog which may still be clinging to the trap.

5. You can also use commercial unclogging liquids.

Many professional-strength unclogging liquids use sodium hydroxide, or lye, to remove clogs. When the lye hits the water, it creates heat and that, mixed with small bits of aluminum, will clear out stubborn clogs. Do not mix a commercial unclogging liquid with vinegar or baking soda. It will create even more heat and that could damage your plumbing system.

Unclogging a toilet isn’t always easy. With the right tools and supplies, however, you can take care of the problem quickly so you don’t need to worry about the toilet overflowing.