The plunger is one of those bathroom tools that everyone has but no one talks about. Why is that? Well, plungers are typically used for toilets when something, or someone, clogs it.
Most of us have used a plunger for our toilets at least once. It’s a dirty job, so it’s understandable that some people avoid it.
Other people might ask a significant other to do the dirty work for them. If you live alone you’re out of luck unless you call a plumber – and that can be costly.
The great news is that toilet plungers are effective at clearing your pipes. Plungers can also be used for other tasks around the house like harassing your sister or dog – we’ll share some plunger ideas later.
In this article we’ll discuss the common types of plungers, the best brands, and how to use a plunger with poop in the toilet (yep, we get this question all the time). We’ll also share some tips to use when using the toilet plunger (with a helpful video). Let’s get started.
Types of Plungers for the Toilet
How many types of plungers are there for the toilet? Just a few but even though they may look different, their use is the same.
The most basic plungers are made cheaply and work well for minor clogs while some of the larger plungers are made for big clogs by big guys!
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The Traditional Plunger (Sink, Toilet, Or Bath)
The traditional plunger is usually the image we have in our head. It’s relatively small, often uses a wooden handle and has a small cup suction on the end of the handle.
Pros:
- Wooden handle (renewable, non-plastic)
- Size (compact and easy to store)
- Practical (great for a range of uses other than the toilet)
- Better on flat surfaces (less effective on toilets)
Cons:
- Size (smaller suction means less force)
- Shorter handle (tall guys have to bend over more but there are long handle options)
- Inflexible suction (usually stiff cup that doesn’t create a great seal)
As you’ll learn later, the effectiveness of a plunger is often the result of the seal it can create. Many bathtubs and sinks have a uniform bottom that provides an even seal, but toilets are more curved.
If the plunger can’t seal to the contours of the toilet then less pressure will be generated.
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The Toilet Plunger (specially designed for toilets)
Maybe you’ve used a traditional plunger in your toilet to no avail. Was there no suction? Did you think you were doing something wrong?
One very cool fact about the toilet plunger is some of the models can turn into a traditional plunger (like a transformer). The lip can be folded under and whala, you’ve got a toilet plunger and traditional plunger rolled into one.
Pros:
- Stronger than a traditional plunger
- Many have a nice wooden handle
- Rubber is softer (conforms well)
- Extra lip creates a longer area for suction
- Some models can be used as a traditional plunger as well
Cons:
- A little larger
- If the extra lip doesn’t fold, then you’ll need a different plunger for sinks and bathtubs
I like the toilet plunger for its versatility and supply rubber (traditional plungers are just too stiff). If you’re having trouble using a plunger on your toilet look at the model you’re using – you may be using the wrong tool.
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The Accordion Plunger
An accordion plunger is a good option for larger toilet clogs. Consider the design of the accordion. It’s a plunger but the suction area is elongated. This design feature allows the plunger to use more force with each pump.
Accordion plungers tend to be effective on drains and showers as well and the handles come in different sizes (you’ll want a longer handle for toilets).
Pros:
- Accordion style offers more pressure
- Multiple uses (toilet, sink, and bathtub)
- Multiple sizes offered (handle length)
Cons:
- Don’t get stuck with a short handle for the toilet
- More pressure = more opportunity for splash so be careful
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Air Plungers (sometimes CO2)
Air plungers are a newer phenomenon for homeowners. Plumbers have used them for a while but now they’re affordable and they work.
Air plungers take a little more effort to learn as they aren’t just “grip and rip” like the plungers mentioned above.
Air plungers use pressurized air from hand pumping or from CO2 cartridges. They usually are positioned deeper in the toilet bowl and use the air to blast out clogs.
These types of plungers are effective but may have a greater learning curve than the other plungers. If your toilet is clogged often an air plunger could be a good investment (they are reasonably priced).
Pros:
- Technology rather than brute force
- Effective
- Smaller and less mess than a regular plunger
Cons:
- Practice needed to learn the technique
- Need to use a traditional plunger if air plunger doesn’t work
Best Brands Of Plungers for the Toilet
To be honest, the brand of plunger isn’t the most important thing to look for. Because the designs are simple (handle and suction) it’s more important to look for the right size and shape.
You’ll also want to consider storage. Will you keep it next to the toilet or will you keep in a closet?
If your plunger will be visible, OXO Good Grips makes the best-looking toilet plunger on the market (check out Oxo on Amazon). It even has a storage cover to hide it when it’s not being used.
For an Air Plunger, Bert makes a well-liked toilet plunger that uses a pump and forced air. Reviews are solid and it comes with multiple suction heads for various uses (check Bert plunger reviews on Amazon).
GT Water Products makes a quality accordion plunger that will look nice next to the toilet, yet be effective inside the toilet (check out GT accordion plunger on Amazon).
How To Use A Plunger With Poop In The Toilet
Yep, we’ve all had this happen (haven’t we). It’s an “Oh Sh#$” moment. You’re at a friend place and the toilet won’t flush. To make matters worse the toilet is full and you keep flushing the toilet but nothing goes down.
The good news is a plunger will work even if there is poop in the toilet. It will be a dirty job though.
In my experience using a plunger with poop in the toilet isn’t the problem, it’s taking the plunger out of the toilet after it’s been used. What do you do with it? Do you have to wash it by hand?
Ideally, you can transfer the dirty plunger to the bathtub or shower and turn gently spray it down. Washing a nasty plunger in the sink is obviously a big no-no.
Now how do you dry it off after rinsing it off it? Don’t you dare use a towel?
I wouldn’t advise a toilet paper either as it will get stuck the plunger. Your best bet is to let it dry off on the bathmat (I know people walk on a bathmat with bare feet but we’re out of options here).
Other Uses For Plungers
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Sinks
Outside of the toilet, plungers are probably most used on kitchen sinks. To avoid having to use a plunger, don’t let food items fall down the drain.
A standard toilet plunger works great for flat sinks. Fill the sink up with water for more water pressure.
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Bathtubs
You can reduce the need for plungers in the bathroom if you use a hair trap. Hair is the biggest problem for bathtub drains and plungers won’t always help.
For serious clogs try using a snake (not a real one) that goes down through the drain and pushes the clog through.
Other reasons for a bathtub drain being clogged are tree roots that have broken and penetrated the pipes. If you have chronically clogged pipes look around the outside of your house and if you have big trees near your sewage lines you might find your cause.
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Showers
Same as above. There are perks to being bald!
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Fencing
As a kid, I would routinely battle my sisters in plunger fencing. We had hard-core battles, usually followed by tears of joy and sorrow.
Of course, I always won, but I didn’t realize the type of plunger mattered. If I could go back in time I’d switch to a long-handled accordion plunger.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the toilet plunger. Plungers aren’t a popular topic however it’s important to know how to use one and which model to use.
Most people think that all toilet plungers are the same and that’s not the case. We covered 4 types:
- Traditional plunger
- Accordion plunger
- Toilet plunger
- Air plunger
Each type has its own pros and cons but I recommend not using a traditional plunger for the toilet. The other 3 options work better for toilets and many toilet plungers are also adaptable to use in sinks and bathtubs.
There are plenty of brands of toilet plungers and we like the OXO Good Grips. But don’t limit yourself. The style of plunger is much more important than the brand.
Once you’ve chosen your plunger you should learn to use it. In most cases, plungers are simple to use. The angle of the suction and the force is most important (unless you’re using an air plunger).
We hope this article provided detailed information on how to use a plunger for poop in the toilet. It’s gross to think about but one skill we all should have. You’ll never know when you’ll have to go!