How to Fix a Clogged Toilet - A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

A clogged toilet can happen to the best of us. It's really okay, you don't have to blame last night's dinner for the clog. It's better to get it fixed as soon as possible so dirty water does not overflow from the bowl, leaving an unsanitary mess on the bathroom floor. The clog in your toilet can be tackled very easily by yourself and there is really no need to call the plumber (unless last night's dinner was really heavy). All you need are some basic cleaning supplies.

Materials Required:

1) Plunger

2) Toilet Auger

3) Rubber Gloves

4) Bucket and Towels

5) Dish Soap

6) Baking Soda & Vinegar

Steps to Fix a Clogged Toilet:

Before you get your muscles into it, turn off the water flow to the toilet tank to prevent any overflowing while you are at work. Once the valve is shut, follow these steps to unclog your toilet:

1) Plunge It All:

If you have steady hands and a plunger with a good seal, you can fix 90% of all the clogged toilets in the world. Of course, you don't have to unclog all these toilets. You have our full support if you are passionate about it though.

Once you have placed the plunger in the drain, make sure it covers the opening completely. Give it a few vigorous pumps while maintaining the seal to produce a strong suction force to force the clog out. If the water is draining, you are doing it right. If this doesn't work, we move on to the next step.

2) Use a Toilet Auger or Plumbing Snake:

There are cases when just plain old plunging won't work. Using a plumbing snake or toilet auger can reach deeper into the drain and unclog anything that has been interrupting water flow. Moreover, they can hook onto solid objects other than the regular waste to safely pull them out instead of pushing the clog deeper inside. They could be a little expensive but owning one saves you an extra trip to the telephone to call the plumber. Using them is really simple too, just follow these steps:

i. Place the toilet auger downwards to the drain opening.

ii. Turn the handle clockwise to lower the cable that extends down the toilet pipe and keep turning until you feel the resistance of the object clogging your toilet.

iii. Turning anti-clockwise can retract the cable that has attached itself to the object for you to take it out with ease.

iv. Flush the toilet now that the clog is removed to see if any more objects are obstructing the smooth flow of water down the drain.

v. Repeat these steps until the toilet flush works properly.

3) Natural Way to Unclog the Toilet:

Personally, I consider the people who invented baking soda and vinegar as genius. They are the stars of every cleaning show (They don't telecast them anymore, it makes me sad)! You can naturally unclog your toilet using one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar shortly after. Leave it be for a good 15-30 minutes and flush the toilet to break down clogs and clear your pipe.

Alternatively, you can also use the hot water and dishwashing soap method. You will need enough bowls or buckets to change the water and to transport dirty water in. Pour some hot water into the toilet until the bowl is half full and fill about a quarter cup of dishwashing liquid into it. Wait for 10-15 minutes and flush the toilet while tracking if the water is receding or not. Repeat this a couple of times until the drain has been unclogged.

4) Chemical Drain Cleaners (Last Resort):

This step should only be followed if all the above steps have failed. Or if you have failed the steps. They trusted you. How could you do this to them?

These products must only be used as a last resort as they are harmful chemicals and potentially damage your plumbing system. It can be toxic if these chemicals come in contact with your eyes, mouth or eyes, so exercise caution while working with them or hire a professional plumber to do the job for you.

Conclusion

Tackling a clogged toilet is manageable with basic supplies. Start by plunging, then move to a toilet auger if needed. Natural methods like baking soda and vinegar or hot water with dish soap can also be effective. Only resort to chemical drain cleaners as a last option, exercising extreme caution. With these steps, you can handle toilet clogs efficiently and avoid the need for a plumber and toilet rentals. Happy unclogging!