4 Ways to Unclog Your Toilet
Flushing your toilet after you’re done is something we rarely think about. It’s just a habit at this point: we flush, hear the zooming sound of water rushing down the bowl, and go on with our day. But every now and then, the usual sounds aren’t there.
Yep. It’s clogged. After an eye-roll and a deeper-than-normal sigh, you start running through your options to unclog it. Everyone knows the simplest and quickest way to unclog it, but did you know you’ve got more choices than that? Here are a few methods to unclog your toilet from the plumbing experts at Mattioni Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
The Plunger
Of course. We’ve all got one of these next to our toilets (or at least close by), because they’re cheap and easy to work with. There’s a reason this is the first thing most people reach for when a dreaded clog has reared its ugly head once again!
But be sure that the plunger you’ve got stashed away is a flange plunger – that is, it has a little cylinder that extends into the toilet bowl. This way, you’re creating a seal in the toilet that vacuums out the clog – otherwise, you’d just be sloshing water around.
Use a Toilet Augur
Thankfully, someone decided to create an invention specifically for this purpose. A toilet augur feeds into the twists and turns of your toilet’s inner workings to get the clog out. You slide in the big, non-corkscrew part, and then work the handle until the metal snake breaks through whatever is clogging your toilet. It’ll either break up the clog, or the hook on the end will reel it in if it’s something like a piece of cloth or other material.
Science Experiment Time!
If augurs and plumbers aren’t your cup of tea, then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and reclaim your 6th-grade science fair glory. Grab some baking soda, vinegar and water, and strap on your safety goggles (not really).
Get roughly a cup of baking soda and dump it in the toilet. Let it sit for a bit, and while it does, combine water and vinegar (about 2 cups of each) and pour the mixture in as well. Go take care of some things on your to-do list, then come back later. If the experiment did its job, the clog will have softened enough to flush correctly.
Dish Soap
One final way to try and get your clog out is by pouring dish soap into the bowl. Give it some time to work its magic, then follow that up with a few cups of hot (but not boiling) water to break up the clog.
Voila! Hopefully at least one of these toilet-unclogging solutions gave you the result that you wanted. Mattioni’s team of expert plumbers want to keep your toilets free and clear of obstruction to make sure you and your family enjoy a problem-free plumbing system year-round.
We’re here to help with any other plumbing, heating or cooling issues you might encounter, so don’t hesitate to give us a call at 610-400-8510!
