6 methods to unclog a toilet without using a plunger

Get everything back to normal with quick and hygienic solutions.

Alternative to Plunger: Start with Dish Soap

A clogged toilet is never a pleasant situation, but there’s a better way to handle it. To unclog a toilet without a plunger, head to the kitchen and grab some dish soap. The slippery soap will help lubricate the clogged pipe and allow the debris to slide down more easily.

Pour about half a cup into the toilet. If you’re out of dish soap, you can cut a bar of hand soap into small pieces and drop those into the toilet. If none of these unconventional methods work, our next method will be your surefire way to unclog the toilet.

Additionally, check out the best toilet paper for your plumbing.

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Pour Hot Water

If dish soap alone doesn’t do the trick, adding water might help move things along. Fill a bucket with hot water (boiling water might crack a porcelain toilet) and pour the water into the toilet from about waist height. The force of the water might dislodge whatever is causing the blockage.

Make a DIY Toilet Snake with a Coat Hanger

For more serious clogs, manual unclogging might be required. If you don’t have a plunger, straighten a wire coat hanger. Push one end of the wire into the clog. Poke and prod until the blockage breaks up and flows down the drain. And that’s it!

Alternative to Plunger: Baking Soda Mixture

As an alternative to dish soap, try this all-natural solution. Pour one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar into the toilet. Let the mixture work for half an hour. If the clog doesn’t dissolve, try the hot water trick. And while you’re in the bathroom, check out 13 tips to clean your bathroom faster and more efficiently.

Use a Plastic Bottle to Create Water Pressure

Warning: This method can get a bit messy/unsanitary.

Start by removing as much water from the toilet as possible; you can do this by using a small container to scoop the water out into a larger bucket. Next, fill a large plastic bottle with warm water.

Cover the bottle’s mouth with your thumb and place the bottle’s mouth into the drain hole at the bottom of the toilet. (You should wear rubber gloves for this step.) Then, remove your thumb and squeeze the bottle to force the water into the pipe. The added pressure can dislodge whatever is causing the blockage.

Alternative to Plunger: Use a Water Gun to Drain the Toilet

If you decided to flush the toilet before dealing with a clog, here’s a unique tip for draining the water.

“When repairing or replacing a toilet, you need to drain all the water. Simply turning off the water supply and flushing won’t get the job done. A sponge might work, but it’s slow. So, I use an old water gun to suck the water out and squirt it into a bucket, leaving just a few drops to be soaked up with a sponge.” – shared by reader Dale Conklin.

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