Easy Ways to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

A Combination of Baking Soda and Vinegar

You can clear a clogged toilet and get it back up and running using basic household items that we use at home nearly every day. Baking soda and vinegar have been used for a long time to unclog drains and toilets. These ingredients, when combined, result in a chemical reaction that loosens the clog. The key steps to follow are simple and straightforward. Pour a cup of baking soda in your toilet and follow it up with a cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes and flush your toilet with hot water. The chemical reaction will break up the clog in the drain.

Unlike liquid chemical cleaners, a combination of baking soda and vinegar is effective, harmless, and good for the environment. However, it is important to note that these ingredients work for minor clogs such as soap scum, organic matter, and toilet paper. Sometimes, the culprits behind a clogged toilet include pipe damage, tree root infiltration, and mineral deposits. You may need the help of a professional plumber when you’re dealing with these culprits. Professionals have high-tech cameras and hydro jetting machines to clear stubborn toilet clogs. When you need toilet repair from a professional plumbing company, get in touch with Mr. Rooter Plumbing.

Use a Drain Snake

This is one of the handy tools that plumbers use to clear drain clogs. It is a long, flexible metal cable with a spiral-shaped end. If you cannot access a plunger, a plumbing snake/drain snake can be an effective alternative for tackling more stubborn clogs. In fact, a drain snake is more effective in many situations because it can physically break up or retrieve the obstruction rather than relying on pressure like a plunger. It can reach deeper into the drain line, navigate bends, and handle clogs caused by solid objects or dense accumulations of debris.

How To Use A Drain Snake To Unclog A Toilet

• Insert the end of the drain snake into the toilet bowl's drain opening.
• Gently push the snake into the drain, turning the handle clockwise as you go. This will help the snake navigate the bends in the pipe.
• Continue feeding the snake into the drain until you feel resistance.
• Once you encounter the clog, continue turning the handle while applying gentle pressure. This will help the snake break up or grab onto the blockage.
• Continue turning and pushing the snake until you feel the clog break apart or until you can pull it out.
• If you feel the snake has grabbed onto something, slowly pull it back out, turning the handle counterclockwise if needed.
• Once you've cleared the clog, carefully remove the snake from the toilet bowl.
• Flush the toilet to ensure the clog is completely gone and the water drains properly.

How to Prevent Toilet Clogs

A clogged toilet can throw a serious spanner in your daily operations. It’s best to take preventive measures to prevent toilet clogs from occurring in the first place. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There’s no point in spending hundreds of dollars hiring a plumber for toilet repair when you can avoid the problem altogether. Apart from ensuring your toilet is installed properly from the outset, here’s what you can do to prevent toilet clogs:

• Only flush toilet paper and human waste—foreign items can become lodged in the drain pipes and cause clogs.
• Educate children about proper toilet use.
• Install a water softening system to avoid mineral buildup in the drain pipes.
• Upgrade to a modern and efficient toilet.
• Schedule regular toilet inspections.

Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing for reliable and affordable toilet repair services in Sunnyvale, TX.