What’s worse — realizing the toilet isn’t going to flush down everything you just deposited, or realizing there’s no plunger in the bathroom and maybe not even in the house? They’re both pretty crappy things to think about, and to go through, but fear not! There are ways to unclog a toilet without using a plunger. Best of all, you probably have most of these backup “tools” in your home already!
The Dish Soap Method
Soap is awfully slippery and that’s exactly what you want when your toilet clogs. All you need to do is pour half a cup of dish soap into the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes before attempting to flush again.
The idea here is for the soap to slide down and coat the sides of the pipes enough to allow the blockage to slip through. If you don’t have any dish soap on hand, shampoo or a bar of soap (just cut it into pieces first) should do the trick, too!
The Wire Hanger Method
When you don’t have a plunger or a drain snake on hand, a wire hanger can actually act just like a snake. Head over to the closet, grab a hanger and unravel it until you have a straight piece of wire. Use it to poke the clog until it’s broken up enough to slide down through the pipe.
The Hot Water Method
You can heat up some water until it’s very hot (but not boiling) and dump it into the bowl. Adding hot water could force the blockage through the pipe.
You can even combine this method with the dish soap method if you’d like, but remember not to boil the water. Boiling water could actually crack the porcelain which could leave you with an even larger problem.
The Baking Soda And Vinegar Method
Let’s face it, is there anything baking soda and vinegar can’t do? It’s great for reinvigorating bath towels, it can take the smell out of your garbage disposal and it can even clean your dishwasher. Well, it’s also good for unclogging a backed up toilet.
Pour a cup of baking soda into the bowl followed by two cups of vinegar. Let it sit for approximately a half hour and let it go to work. The combination has the ability to break down the contents of the clog and allow them to slip down the pipe. While it may do the trick on its own, you may want to pour some hot water down at the end just to make sure.
If none of the above do the trick, it’s best to call in an expert plumber. After all, a clogged toilet is a problem that can lead to a number of other issues if it’s not addressed right away. On top of that, just think about how your home will operate down a bathroom. While it may be a tad bit embarrassing, there’s no need to worry. We’re here to help!
Emergency Plumbing Services On Long Island
At Universe Home Services, we understand that plumbing emergencies can arise at any time. You might be dealing with an overflowing toilet early on a Saturday morning or in the middle of the night. In most cases, these issues just can’t wait until the next business day.
With this in mind, we’re proud to offer emergency plumbing services throughout Nassau County & Suffolk County. We’ll respond quickly to your call and provide you with the plumbing repairs you need—any time of day or night. Give us a call right away at (516) 473-0202.