July 24, 2020 •Reid Geiler
We've all dealt with a clogged toilet at one time or another. Usually we reach for the plunger to deal with the issue. But what if you don't have one? Here are a few ways you can unclog a toilet without a plunger.
Hot water: Pour hot water from the tap directly into the toilet. Note the water level in the bowl when you begin and wait a few minutes. If the water starts to drain, that's a good sign. Never use boiling water, because it's possible to damage the pipes or burn your skin if you spill it. The water from your hot water tap will be hot enough.
Dish soap: If hot water alone didn't work, add a quarter cup of dish soap to the bowl. Wait about ten minutes for the heavier than water soap to move down the drain to the clog, then add hot water again. The soap will sometimes be that extra kick you need to beat the clog.
Vinegar and baking soda: Combining these two substances can yield a lot of bubbles and create some pressure in the drain. Pour one cup each into the toilet bowl and let the chemical reaction do its work. Use the baking soda first because it's a powder and will take a little time to settle. If your toilet bowl is filled to the rim, you will need to remove some water because the chemical reaction will make a bit of a mess. Wait 30 minutes and pour some hot water into the toilet and see if it drains. If it doesn't, you can repeat the process.
Direct attack on the clog: Take a toilet brush or other cleaning tool and put it down the drain and move it around to break up the clog. If the clog is out of reach for your brush, unwind a metal coat hanger and push the hook down as far as you can into the drain. Wrap a cloth around the hook to prevent scratching the porcelain. Just be careful that the cloth doesn't come off the hook and make the problem worse.
If none of these attempts to unclog your toilet without a plunger are successful, you might have a more serious problem.
It's time to call the Geiler Company at 513-574-0025. We will come out and make sure everything is flowing properly.