You’re at a friend’s house and you feel the urge to go. You hustle to the bathroom and deposit an impressive amount of solid waste. It could very well be a personal record and you think to yourself “how did all that come out of me – it must be 5 lbs”.
You turn the fan on to hide the odorous fog that wafts over the toilet. Check.
Next, you give the toilet a hard flush as if you’re trying to hit Triple 8’s on a slot machine.
The toilet bubbles and burps, and refuses to flush. It’s as if the toilet is disgusted with what you left in it.
“Not now”, you think. As you give it a second flush you pray, “Please go down”. This toilet is stubborn.
“Maybe it needs a little push”, you think. You try to remain positive and look around for a plunger. Everyone has a plunger in their bathroom, right? Could it be kept under the sink? Nope.
If you’re one of the thousands of people who clog a toilet each day, you’re looking for advice. It’s one thing if you clogged a toilet in the comfort of your own home, but it’s another story if you’re a guest at a small gathering, or trying to make a good first impression at the in-law’s house.
Lucky for you, I’ll share 10 ways to unclog a toilet without a plunger. A plunger is a go-to tool for the bathroom, however, sometimes it’s not available and you’ll have to find other ways to solve the backup. There are viable alternatives, however, they require a little more effort.
Unfortunately, most of the 10 ways on this list require you to go outside of the bathroom to find products that will help (once you leave the bathroom your cover will be blown.
Let’s get started!
10 Ways To Unclog A Toilet Without A Plunger
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Vinegar
Have vinegar and a little extra time? Vinegar is a natural acid and it works great as an alternative to harsh chemicals. Vinegar can be used to clean surfaces, remove toilet bowl rings, and help with cleaning clothes.
It also works great to eat away at minor clogs in your pipes. Whether you have a clogged sink, shower, or toilet pouring vinegar down the drain can open things up.
There’s one problem with vinegar: it takes time to work. Pour .5-1 gallon of vinegar into the toilet and also it to sit for several hours (overnight works best). After a few hours, flush the toilet and chances are, your clog will be loose (learn how to clean a toilet naturally with vinegar).
Vinegar is a great option because it’s cheap and effective. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, try adding a few drops of essential oil in the bowl after you’ve added the vinegar.
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Bucket Of Water
The bucket of water method is an immediate fix for the clog. All you need is a 5-gallon bucket or a large plastic storage container. You’ll also need muscles to lift the full bucket of water over the porcelain throne.
Once you’ve found a large bucket or container, use the shower or bathtub to fill it ¾ full (don’t fill it all the way as water will splash out when you carry it). Hot water works best, but cold water will usually work too.
Carry the container to the toilet, make sure the lid and seat are up, and pour a large amount of water in the toilet at once. This method is only effective is the volume of water can push through the clog. A bucket also works great for flushing toilet without running water.
Many new toilets use the minimum amount of water for each flush. Using less water per flush is great for saving our precious natural resource, however, it usually results in frequent clogs. A large amount of water dumped in the toilet can force minor clogs to break up.
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Dish Soap and Hot Water
The dish soap and hot water combination also work great for minor clogs. Why dish soap? Well, dish soap has a lubricating effect and once it is in contact with the clog it can help it pass through the trap or pipe.
The addition of hot water helps degrade toilet paper and solid waste into small pieces. When combined, hot water and dish soap work synergistically to break down your clog.
- First, apply liquid dish soap to the bowl (eyeball a half cup).
- Allow the dish soap to sit in the bowl for 10-15 minutes before adding water
- Fill up a bucket with a gallon or two of hot water (not boiling but hot) and dump into the bowl.
- Wait 10 minutes for the hot water and soap to work on the clog then attempt a flush.
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Wire (Clothes Hanger)
Most people have a wire hanger in their closet. They’re inexpensive so you shouldn’t have a problem straightening it into a homemade toilet tool.
If the clog is in the toilet’s trap, you only need the wire to reach a short distance into the toilet to loosen things up.
Never force a straight wire into your toilet. 1) the metal could scratch the porcelain in the bowl and 2) the end of the wire should be curved upward at the end of the wire.
Once you’ve curved the wire in the position you want, I strongly suggest using tape to cover the metal. Tape will keep the metal from damaging your costly porcelain toilet.
Insert the wire in the bowl and gently push it up inside. Wiggle around to see if you can loosen the clog. There’s a chance you may not be able to reach far enough in the bowl with the wire, but it’s still worth a shot!
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Toilet Brush
If there’s no plunger and no toilet brush then your friend has left you hanging. Were you set-up? It’s possible!
Chances are you’ll have a toilet brush to help with a clog. Unfortunately, toilet brushes aren’t the best option.
A brush can’t get far inside the bowl like other tools.
It may be useful to push water through the bowl. Work the brush around the bowl and see what happens.
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Toilet Snake
Have you ever heard of a toilet auger or toilet snake? A toilet snake is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a flexible tool that extends through the trap of a toilet.
This is the best tool on our list and is made to unclog your toilet. No plunger, no problem!
Chances are you won’t have a toilet snake in your home. If you’re interested in getting one, read my other article on toilet snakes – they are inexpensive and more economical than calling a plumber every time you have a clog.
If you’re really creative you could try using a garden hose in the toilet. Unscrew the hose and make sure there’s no water in the hose.
Put tape on the metal end of the hose so it doesn’t scratch your porcelain and gently work the hose into the bowl. You should be able to get a hose through the trap.
It’s bound to be a messy (and smelly) job so make sure you have plenty of old towels to clean the hose after use.
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Your Hand
If you succumb to this option, you’re really desperate. But desperate times call for desperate measures, right?
We both know you’ll wash your hands thoroughly afterward so go for it. Roll your sleeves up and stick your hand in the bowl. Reach to the depths and curve your fingers so they can feel if there is a clog near the entrance of the trap.
You’ll probably smell as much as you feel. There’s a good chance you’ll gag a few times too.
If you unclog the toilet it will all be worth it, but if you don’t you may regret your decision for a long time.
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Citric Acid
Citric acid works very similar to vinegar. It’s natural and acidic so it slowly eats away at stubborn clogs.
Citric acid is also great for cleaning the bowl and hard water stains. If you don’t have vinegar, search your house for citric acid. It’s inexpensive and a small amount goes a long way.
Apply citric acid to the bowl, use the toilet brush to mix and scrub the bowl, then wait for a few hours before attempting a flush (letting sit overnight is recommended).
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Double Flush and Hold
Okay, you’ve already tried this option but I had to include it because it works! If the toilet is clogged on the first flush, wait 5 minutes and try to flush again. Hold down the handle so all the water empties the tank.
The longer toilet paper sits in water, the better it breaks down. A second flush might do the trick if the clog was caused by too much toilet paper!
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Baking Soda
A baking soda bomb is yet another option and an alternative to vinegar and citric acid. Baking soda, however, is an alkaline substance, not an acid.
It does a great job with removing stubborn buildup and can help unclog a toilet without a plunger.
If you don’t have vinegar or citric acid, I bet you have baking soda! If you don’t have any of them you must be a minimalist!
To use the baking soda, place 3-4 tablespoons in the bowl. Use a toilet brush to mix up the baking soda with the water and allow it to sit for an extended amount of time. After a few hours, flush the toilet and I bet it will work!
Conclusion
You dropped a big load in the toilet flush was weak. The toilet tried to accept your waste but it couldn’t. It refused!
Maybe it was the revolting smell, maybe it was the size of your logs, or maybe it was the excessive amount of toilet paper that was used (likely the latter).
If it happened at your house it’s not big deal – you’ve got all day to fix it. But if it happened at a friends house you’re in big trouble. Grab a plunger! Wait, where is the plunger?
Now you’re searching on Google “how to unclog a toilet without a plunger”. It’s possible but it will take some creativity.
In this article, I shared 10 ways to unclog a toilet without a plunger. These are 10 methods that work, however, many of them take time (hours).
Choose one method that is easy for you and let us know how it worked in the comments. I find the bucket option is a fast and easy way to force a clog to break up. The hot water + soap option is also safe and easy.
If the clog occurred in the evening, consider adding vinegar to the bowl and letting it sit overnight. By morning, the clog will be loosened up and the flush will be a breeze.
As usual, thanks for reading another Toilet Travels article on all-things toilets. Be sure to check out our blog for more helpful tips and tricks to make your toilet work properly.