Clogged toilets, nothing more unpleasant, but it happens from time to time! We reveal the tips to unblock them easily.
Leftover food, too much toilet paper or improper disposal of hygiene products: a whole host of reasons can explain clogged toilets. To prevent the situation from worsening and to allow the water to drain again normally and quickly, they must be unclogged.
Before calling a plumber or resorting to harsh cleaning products, there are a few simple tips and home remedies you can try. We've put together the best tips for you to help you unclog your toilet.
Is the toilet only slightly clogged?
If your toilet is only slightly clogged, using the toilet brush may be sufficient. First, remove any toilet paper or whatever is obviously clogging your toilet. And there are not a thousand solutions. The best way to do this is by hand: use rubber gloves (available here from Amazon) to avoid contact with dirty water, and throw anything you find straight into the trash.
Next, guide the head of the toilet brush as deep as possible into the drain, then vigorously move the brush back and forth. The blockages in the upper area of the siphon should now be loosened.
If your toilet is still not free, you can try unblocking it with hot water. To do this, it is enough to pour several liters of water into the sewer as quickly as possible. But the water should not be too hot, otherwise the hose and the toilet may be damaged from the inside. Leave it to cool for a few minutes after cooking and only pour it into the toilet afterwards.
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Clogged toilets: vinegar and baking powder can help
If nothing happens despite these two tips, vinegar and baking powder can also help quickly. Both are home remedies that have already been proven effective in home maintenance. Warning: although vinegar and baking powder are natural remedies, you need to protect yourself enough. It is best to wear gloves and goggles to protect your skin and your eyes. Also, make sure your bathroom is well ventilated.
How it works ?
Pour a packet of baking soda down the toilet and then add half a bottle of vinegar. Don't be surprised, the mixture in the toilet may start to foam. But it's the right thing to do. Let everything soak for at least ten minutes. It is even better to let the vinegar and baking powder mixture work overnight. Pour about three liters of hot water after soaking.
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Clogged toilets: unclog with the suction cup
The suction cup is probably the best known method against a blocked toilet. In general, this is a good way to free a pipe. You can find your suction cup at the supermarket, hardware store, or here on Amazon.
How it works ?
Place the suction cup upside down at the bottom of your toilet and press firmly on the handle several times in a row. Let go again and again and pull up. This creates a suction that draws dirt to the surface. Once you've successfully lifted the dirt up, don't try to bring it back down. This can clog your toilet again. It is best to remove everything by hand (with rubber gloves!), Put everything in a plastic bag and throw it all in the trash.
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If you want to unclog your toilet as quickly as possible and you don't have a suction cup in the house, you can fabricate a yourself . All you need is a large plastic (PET) bottle and some scissors.
- Cut out the bottom of the plastic bottle with the scissors.
- Screw on the cap of the PET bottle.
- Place the bottle, like a "real" plunger, on the toilet drain, the opening facing down. The open side is your piston, so to speak.
- Press hard up and down until negative pressure is created.
- As soon as the water boils, the blockage is released.
Again, don't try to flush the toilet: put on gloves and throw the dirt straight in the trash.
If the pipe is still not free despite this, it is surely that your toilet is probably clogged further in the pipe …
Clogged toilets: the spiral of pipes
As a last try, you can try a pipe unblocker (here at Amazon). But you have to be very careful with the ferret, you need strength and especially manual skill.
How it works :
Carefully insert the ferret into the toilet. Turn the crank with a little pressure until the ferret has pierced the place where your toilet is blocked. Be very careful not to damage the drain and the toilet. The blockage should now be pierced with the tip of the ferret and then come off. Unscrew the ferret again and pick up large dirt with rubber gloves. Rinse the toilet well afterwards.
Also read: Cleaning: gestures dangerous to our health
Clogged toilets: do not use chemical cleaners
Chemical pipe cleaners are available in large quantities on the Internet and in supermarkets – whether in granular or liquid form. You must not touch them. Pipe cleaners contain high concentrations of alkaline ingredients which are very corrosive. While this causes hair, grease, and paper to break down, it's not good for the environment. If you can't do without this type of product, be sure to use a biologically compatible variant.
If all of these tips haven't helped you, there is most likely a bigger problem. Your toilet is probably deeply blocked. It is even possible that the problem is downstairs, with your neighbors, in the basement or even in town. In such a situation, unfortunately, only a professional can help. A plumber costs around 60 to 80 euros at best.
The price can of course vary depending on the plumber chosen, the distance to be traveled to get there and the degree of obstruction of your toilet. If you live in a rented apartment, you can ask your landlord to hire a plumber and pay the fees.