How to Unclog a Toilet without a Plunger

Clogs happen, and most can unhappen with a little help from a plunger. But what do you do if you don’t have a plunger? Sure, using a plunger is the recommended first step to unclogging a toilet, but even without a plunger it is still possible to unclog a toilet. That being said, we do strongly recommend you keep a plunger within arms reach of all the toilets in your home.

5 Alternative Methods to Unclog a Toilet

It may take a little more time and patience and may not be your first choice, but it is still possible to unclog a toilet without a plunger. So, before you high tail it to hardware store leaving your toilet out of order, try one (or all) these hacks to get your toilet in working order again even if you don’t have a plunger.

1. Dish Soap

Try pouring half a cup of dish soap into your toilet bowl and letting it sit there for a bit before flushing. The idea here is that the soap will sink down and coat the sides of the pipe making it easier for the blockage to slip through. If you are out of dish soap, alternatively you can cut a bar of soap into little pieces and drop those into the bowl instead.

2. Hot Water

You can try this alone or in addition to the soap to maximize the effectiveness. Dump a bucket of hot water (not boiling as that could cause the porcelain to crack) into the toilet bowl from waist high. The force of the dropping hot water could be enough to push the clog along.

3. Wire Hanger Snake

A more stubborn clog may require manually moving the item. If you happen to have a wire hanger handy, you can untwist it until you have one straight length of wire. Then, insert it down into the toilet drain like you would a drain snake and poke the mass until it either dislodges or gets broken up enough to continue through the pipe on its own. Just be careful not to scratch the porcelain.

4. Baking Soda & Vinegar

This is a classic all-natural solution for clogged drains, but it may work on your toilet as well. Try pouring one cup of baking soda along with two cups of white vinegar into your toilet bowl and allow it to fizz for half an hour. That might be enough to unclog the pipe on its own, but feel free to pour in a bucket of hot water for good measure.

5. Plastic Water Bottle

This one can get a bit messy, so you’ll want to be sure to have gloves or even a large plastic bag to cover your hands. The first step is to take as much water out of the bowl as possible. The fill up a plastic bottle with warm water. Place your thumb over the opening of the bottle to plug the hole. Then place the plastic bottle (with your thumb still covering the hole) in the outlet at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Remove your thumb and squeeze the bottle so the water shoots down the pipe and hopefully the added pressure will dislodge whatever was causing the clog.

Need a Minneapolis Plumber?

It’s never a good feeling when a quick trip to the bathroom leads to a clogged drain or nearly overflowing toilet. That panic can only be only surpassed when you realize there’s no plunger in sight. Hopefully, these unconventional clog removers will help easy your mind if you ever find yourself in that situation. If, however, clogged toilets and drains are a frequent occurrence, you may be dealing with a bigger issue and may want to have a trusted plumber out to inspect your pipes. One Hour Rooter won’t just clear your clog. We’ll clean your drain to completely remove all remnants of the clog so it can’t come back. And we’ll do it quickly, capably, and affordably. Call our Minneapolis plumbers at 612-354-8984 or schedule a plumbing appointment online.