Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 9: Before you start
• Method 2 of 9: Method 1: Dish soap and hot water
• Method 3 of 9: Method 2: The plopper
• Method 4 of 9: Method 3: The iron wire coat hanger
• Method 5 of 9: Method 4: The unclogging spring
• Method 6 of 9: Method 5: The wet and dry vacuum cleaner
• Method 7 of 9: Method 6: Enzymes
• Method 8 of 9: Method 7: Baking soda and vinegar
• Method 9 of 9: Method 8: Chemical drain cleaners
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Of course, it is never convenient if you have to unclog your toilet, but it seems like toilet blockages always occur at the most awkward moments. Fortunately, you can fix most blockages yourself without paying a plumber. Follow the steps below and the problem should be solved before your in-laws come to visit.

To step

Method 1 of 9: Before you start

1. Only flush once. If the toilet doesn't flush the first time, you don't have to try again. This only leads to more water in the toilet. If you have a clogged toilet, flushing the first time won't overflow the bowl, but it might flood the second time.
2. Put on rubber gloves. Toilets are by definition not the most hygienic places to work, but a good pair of rubber cleaning gloves can protect you from bacteria.
   • If you can see the cause of the blockage with the naked eye, put on a pair of rubber gloves and remove the problem
3. Protect the floor. What's worse than a clogged toilet? A toilet that overflows. Prevent any damage by laying newspaper or kitchen paper on the floor, as this will absorb any liquids. In addition, you will splash or spill something when unclogging anyway. The newspapers will make cleaning easier.
4. Make sure the water supply to the toilet is closed. If all goes well, there is a tap next to, behind or under the toilet. Do not turn off the main tap, because then no one can use water anymore. If the water supply to the toilet is turned off, the bathroom or toilet room will in any case not overflow.
5. Provide good ventilation. Turn on the extractor or open a window to minimize odors, as well as to protect you from toxic fumes from the chemical products you may be using.

Method 2 of 9: Method 1: Dish soap and hot water

1. Put a little washing-up liquid in the jar. A few squirts of washing-up liquid in the toilet is enough.
2. Pour half a bucket of hot tap water into the pot from about a meter high. The reason for pouring from this height is that the weight of the water in front of it can help clear the blockage. The water does not have to be hotter for a cup of tea that you can just drink. It should definitely not be too hot or even boiling, as that can crack the china (and burn you). Little water will not work –– the temperature of the water pushing against the blockage must rise.
   • Leave the water and detergent in the toilet for a few minutes. This can already cause the blockage to soften enough to loosen and resolve.
   • If the water isn't going down yet, it's time for the plopper.

Method 3 of 9: Method 2: The plopper

1. Do not use this method if you know that a certain object is causing the blockage (for example, a toy). In that case, immediately switch to another method.
2. Use the correct plopper. It is important that you use a rubber plopper suitable for the heavier work, either the ball type or one with an extra rubber edge at the bottom. Never use the small cheap cup-shaped ploppers - these often don't work. Remember, the bigger the plopper, the more force you can apply to the clogged drain. The plopper should have such a shape that the water is pumped into the drain when you press down, not back into the toilet bowl.
   • If the plopper doesn't seal properly, try tying an old rag around the plopper.
   • Always run hot water over the plopper first. This makes the rubber softer and helps seal.
3. Put the plopper in the toilet bowl and press down firmly but slowly. Make sure the hole is completely closed. The plopper must be completely submerged in order to work properly. It is important to push and pull with water, not air.
   • Add water to the toilet bowl if necessary. Pull the plopper to create suction, then push back in to apply pressure. Remember that the blockage was caused by something going down the drain, so don't press too hard, it could go even further down the drain. It is mainly the suction that causes the blockage to loosen.
   • If the plopper eventually empties the toilet bowl but the blockage still remains, leave the plopper in the bowl and refill the bowl with water, up to the usual level. Then get back to work with the plopper. Stubborn blockages often require several rounds.

Method 4 of 9: Method 3: The iron wire coat hanger

1. If the plopper doesn't work, use a wire coat hanger. This method usually works if the blockage is at the beginning of the drain.
2. Untwist the coat hanger. Twist the ends of the coat hanger apart until they are no longer connected. To prevent damage to the porcelain, you can wrap one end tightly with a cloth.
3. Insert the end with the cloth into the drain. If the iron wire is in the drain: move it back and forth and in a circular motion to clear the drain.

Method 5 of 9: Method 4: The unclogging spring

1. Buy or rent an unclogging spring. An unclogging spring (or tension spring) is a bendable metal wire that can go around the bends of a drain.
2. Put the end of the spring in the drain. Push down and down the drain until you feel the blockage.
3. Twist and push the spring through the blockage until the water starts running again.
4. If necessary, loosen the toilet to be able to insert the spring from the other side. This is often necessary for hard clogging causes such as toys. If you know this is the case and you don't want to disassemble the toilet yourself, call the plumber.

Method 6 of 9: Method 5: The wet and dry vacuum cleaner

1. If the plopper and unclogging spring have not helped, use an industrial vacuum cleaner. Never use a household vacuum cleaner - it should be one that can suck wet and dry.
2. Use the wet and dry vacuum to suck the water out of the pot.
3. Place the end of the hose 5-10 cm down the drain. Only use the flexible hose, no attachments. Use old towels to seal the drain properly.
4. Turn on the plunger and press the towels so that it seals properly. With a little luck, the wet and dry vacuum cleaner will succeed in sucking the blockage out of the drain.

Method 7 of 9: Method 6: Enzymes

1. Be patient with this method. It is by no means a quick method and it only works with organic matter (no objects or hair). But it can clear the blockage overnight.
2. Buy an unclogging product with enzymes. Look for a product that contains a blend of enzymes that "eat" the waste material. You can buy these types of products from the plumbing department of DIY stores. They are the same enzymes used in skeptical systems to break down material.
3. Follow the instructions on the bottle.

Method 8 of 9: Method 7: Baking soda and vinegar

1. Sprinkle a packet of baking soda into the toilet bowl.
2. Then pour a bottle of vinegar into the jar.
3. Pour carefully! The mixture will start to fizz. Stop pouring for a moment if it starts to foam. The baking soda and vinegar create a chemical process that dissolves blockages. It's a slow process, but it works quite well.
4. Wait a few minutes after pouring out the entire bottle of vinegar.
5. Now pour 3-4 liters of hot tap water into the toilet bowl. This helps the salt and vinegar work.
6. Let it sit overnight if possible.

Method 9 of 9: Method 8: Chemical drain cleaners

1. If nothing else works, use a chemical cleaner. You can buy it at most drug and hardware stores. The chemical components are bad for the environment, so only use this method if other methods do not work.
2. Do not use this method if you suspect that there is something hard in the drain. Then use an unclogging spring or call the plumber.
3. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Only use products that are suitable for toilets.

Tips

• If you want to shut off the water supply to the toilet, you can turn off the faucet on the toilet (usually behind or next to the cistern), or you can open the cistern and lift and secure the float. If the float is above a certain point, the water supply will stop. When you let go of the float, the water starts to flow again.
• For a blockage: if you see (or hear) water coming up in sinks or the shower when you flush the toilet, it means that there is a deep blockage that ultimately causes your toilet to stop working properly. Do not start with the above methods. Call a plumber right away.
• Clean thoroughly. Disinfect the toilet bowl with disinfectant cleaner when you are done unclogging. Discard the wire (if used) and disinfect or discard the rubber gloves. The same goes for any other tools you may have used, such as the plopper or an unclogging spring. These tools can spread bacteria and start to smell if not cleaned properly. There may still be water in a used plopper. Hold the plopper over the toilet, slightly tilted, and shake gently without spilling onto the floor.
• If nothing really works, the problem is probably very deep. In that case, you will likely need a plumber.
• If your toilet is often clogged, try to find out what's causing it so that you can prevent it in the future. Possible causes are: too much toilet paper, tampons (some you can flush, but most not), toys (children, but also pets can be the suspects in this case), cotton swabs and damp toilet paper. Consider putting up a card with a list of things that should not be flushed.

Warnings

• Never use a plopper just after adding chemical drain cleaners. The chemicals can splash on your skin.
• Chemical drain cleaners are generally extremely poisonous and dangerous. Avoid skin and eye contact and never mix different products. Follow the instructions carefully and obey all warnings.
• The baking soda and vinegar method may not clear large blockages, but is certainly suitable for small blockages.
• Many home chemical drain cleaners available in stores are unsuitable for toilets. Check the label to make sure the product is suitable for use in toilet drains. Note that some products generate a lot of heat as a result of the chemical reaction that occurs when the product comes into contact with water; If not handled properly, this heat can result in damage to the toilet and the PVC pipe attached to the toilet.
• Do not use brute force when pushing the plopper up and down, it is unnecessary and will cause the water to splash.
• Coat hangers and unclogging springs can scratch the porcelain of the toilet. Be careful to avoid any damage, especially in the visible part of the pot. The end of the coat hanger that you use to enter the toilet to "fish" for the blockage should always be bent into a v-shaped hook, for example with suitable pliers, and then covered with waterproof duct tape. Very carefully try to get the hook behind the blockage / toy and then slowly pull it towards you in a steady motion.

Necessities

• A plopper
• Dishwashing liquid (optional)
• Rubber gloves
• Iron wire coat hanger (optional)
• Bucket (optional)
• Newspaper
• Eye protection against dirt and splashing chemicals