I can't call a plumber but my toilet won't unclog. What can I do?
I’m in a rough spot. I have a seriously clogged toilet and I really don’t want my landlord to know. I can't afford a plumber either, so I’m sort of stuck here. I tried a plunger and it didn't work. What can I use to unclog the toilet? I’ve heard that baking soda and vinegar works but I’m worried about the pipes. I can’t afford a service call, let alone serious plumbing work if I make the problem worse. Does anyone have any solutions? I’m seriously freaking out.
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My 2 cents: if a plunger does not work, you really need a pro. The right tools in the wrong hands can really exacerbate the situation, maybe resulting in puncturing the toilet drain piping. A toilet auger or removing the toilet itself to clear the clog are two suggestions I can offer.
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I know you said you tried a plunger but have you tried plunging different ways or having someone else try plunging it? Like if you usually do slow, deep plunges, try switching it up with a few shorter, quicker plunges. And someone else might have a different technique that works better in this situation.
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I've seen so many people use a plunger wrong. You have to make sure to get a good seal before you start plunging, otherwise it won't be effective. You should able to feel the suction if you place the plunger properly. If you slowly, rhythmically plunge then you are just moving the blockage up and down the pipe. Instead, slowly push the plunger all the way down and then quickly and firmly pull up, once. Repeat as necessary.
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Dish soap and hot water worked for me! Pour dish soap (or shampoo if you don't have dish soap) down the toilet and then pour hot water down the toilet. Let that sit for a few minutes (maybe 5-20) and see if that fixes your problem! Just be careful not to use water that's too hot, because that might crack your porcelain.
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Vinegar and baking soda shouldn’t harm the pipes, but that’s also probably not the best option here. Let’s start with the simplest solutions first. So, try filling a bucket of water and pouring it quickly into the bowl. If you’re lucky, the force from the water will push through whatever blockage you have. Wait until the water drains a little bit if that doesn’t work (or empty the water out with the bucket or a wet vac). Also, try plunging the toilet again and make sure you have a really good seal with the plunger on the bowl. If you don’t have a plunger, ask a friend or neighbor if you can borrow theirs. After plunging, I’d recommend trying the vinegar and baking soda thing. It’ll only work if your water is slowly draining though, so don’t bother if you’ve got zero drainage. Your next best bet is to snake the drain with a drain auger. If you don’t have one of those, again, ask a neighbor or friend to borrow theirs. Run the snake down the drain CAREFULLY until you feel resistance—then, keep going slowly until you break up the clog. Good luck!
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PSA: don't use Drano to try and unclog your toilet! I thought that I could pour it down my toilet because I could pour it down my sinks and stuff, but boy was I wrong. It damaged my toilet and didn't even unclog it.
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