How to Unclog a Toilet with a Plunger All by Yourself!

Plungers are a simple tool until you discover water overflowing through your toilet or sink. This tool can be a great help to avoid such common morning disasters. Of course, you will need a bit of patience and practice. But I believe even a rookie repairer can fix a clogged toilet if he or she knows the right formula.

Here is all you need to know about how to unclog a toilet with a plunger without bringing a flood to your bathroom.

How To Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger

Few people think it so hard to unclog a toilet but it’s easy when you follow proper tactics. By the way, grab the steps to unclog your toilet perfectly.

Step-01: Close the Toilet Flapper

First and foremost, start with closing the toilet flapper. Simply take off the lid from the tank and do it as soon as possible. It is important to avoid water overflowing your toilet. A flapper is a part that makes water come into the bowl.

You may believe that the flush will sooner than later burst. In that case, before pulling the trigger get rid of the top. Now simply use one hand to push the flusher while using the other hand for closing the flapper.

Once it feels like the water is rising, it’s time to stop the flood.

Step-02: Using A Proper Plunger

Not all plumbing fixtures will need the same type of plunger. Yes, you heard me right! The most common type that is used for fixing clogs is sink plunger or cup plunger. The flat bottom plunger comes with a dome shape rubber cup on top. These types are basically meant for tubs and sinks.

Many will use these to unclog their toilet. Which is obviously a total wrong step. You should have a toilet plunger for such cases.

These will usually come with taller cups. Also, there is a flange which looks like a sleeve on the very bottom. This flange fits perfectly in your toilet bowl and provides a seal.

You can simply fold the flange extension and use it for sinks and tubs also. So, for having the proper unclogging always go for toilet plunger instead of sink plunger.

Step-03: Hot Water Process

Now you need something to get rid of the stiffness and hardness of your plunger. It needs to be soft and plant for better use. How do you do that? Simple, use some hot water.

Just let your plunger dip into some hot water before using it. The rubber will get pliant and softer in no time. This will later give you a better seal on the bowl of the toilet.

Step-04: It’s Time to Plunge

Now simply hold the plunger in your toilet bowl to seal the exit hole. Don’t just focus on the downward pushing while doing so. A pullback is also essential to think about. Before flushing the toilet, you need to give some good up and down strokes with the plunger. That’s the right process of unclogging.

Once you flush it, the water should clear. However, if the thing does not work yet, we need some more steps to go through. Repeat the whole plunge and flush continuously. Make sure the flapper is properly closed.

It will take some constant efforts but the water will get cleared up after some trials.

Step-05: Some Surprise Knacks

Try adding a few cups of hot water mixed with dishwasher detergent into the bowl. Do this right before plunging. Let the water sit for a few minutes. The mild heat will break the stuff fast. This is going to make plunging much easier.

Sometimes you don’t even need the plunging step and the clog will be gone. It’s one great method to use when you visit your neighbors’ house or simply anyone’s residence. It will be quite embarrassing telling them to get you a plunger.

One more trick is using vinegar and baking soda. It’s one of the basic elementary science fair project stuff we know about. The mixture can get into some reaction and help the clog break down. Just pour some baking soda into the bowl. Now simply add vinegar above that. The clog should disappear. Easy Peasy!

Step-06: When Plunging Fails

Now things get serious when continuous efforts of plunging fail. You might be really frustrated at this point. But hold a little bit more. Let’s try a different way. Get a toilet auger or closet auger. This tool is also useful when dealing with toilet clogs.

It comes with a metal tube and cranks handle basically. A cable should run in it. You need to get the cable end into the bowl. Now simply flush. Be sure to push the thing down while doing so. This might get rid of the toilet tarp and clear clogs.

Sometimes the corkscrew tip of the cable becomes a problem in toilet traps while fixing stiff clogs. You should pull them out to avoid such a situation.

This is the only step when bigger items like sponge get flushed inside your toilet. That’s why the toilet trap gets stuck and water stops flowing which creates a strong clog.

Extra: When to Get Pro Help?

In most cases, people can fix clogs all by themselves. It is not a hard thing to do. But sometimes the situation becomes tricky.

For example, you are flushing the toilet and water is backing up through showers or sinks. That’s the time when you need a plumber help.

An inappropriate place overflowing with water signals that you have clogged the mainline. It’s one of those moments when using a simple plunger or auger can’t save you.

Final Words

Looks like you know just what you need to know about how to unclog a toilet with a plunger. My job is done, it’s time to bid bye!

Be sure you keep up with regular clean-up routines for your toilet to not clog. The edge should be nice and clean. Also, make good habits of not using the entire roll of toilet paper and dumping it right into the trap.