Clogged Toilet: How to Unclog It Safely (With or Without a Plunger)

A clogged toilet feels urgent, but the first job is simple: keep the bowl from overflowing. Once the water level is under control, most clogs clear with the right plunger used the right way, and the rest give way to a toilet auger. This guide goes through each step and explains what the clog is telling you about your drain.

Stop an overflow first

If the water is rising toward the rim, take the lid off the tank and push the flapper at the bottom of the tank down to stop more water entering the bowl. Then turn the shutoff valve behind the toilet clockwise. If the valve is stuck, lift the float or float arm in the tank to stop the fill valve while you deal with it. Never flush again to “test” a clogged toilet; each flush adds another tank of water to the bowl.

Diagnose the clog

Fix 1: Plunge it the right way

A cup plunger made for sinks does not seal well in a toilet. A flange plunger has a soft extension that fits into the drain opening.

1. Make sure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger head. Add water from a bucket if needed.
2. Insert the plunger at an angle so it fills with water instead of air, then fit the flange into the drain opening.
3. Push down gently first to push out any air, then make 10 to 15 firm, steady push-and-pull strokes while keeping the seal.
4. Pull the plunger away. If the water drains, pour in a bucket of water to confirm, then flush once.
5. Repeat a few rounds before moving on. Plunging works by pressure and suction, not force.

Fix 2: Hot water and dish soap

For soft clogs, squirt a generous amount of dish soap into the bowl and add a bucket of hot tap water from waist height. Avoid boiling water, which can crack a porcelain bowl. Give it 15 to 20 minutes; the soap lubricates the clog and the water’s weight helps push it through. Then plunge again.

Fix 3: Use a toilet auger

A toilet auger has a short cable inside a bent tube with a rubber sleeve that protects the porcelain.

1. Pull the cable back so only the tip is exposed, and set the bend of the tube into the bottom of the bowl, pointing up into the drain.
2. Crank the handle while pushing the cable down. It will follow the bends of the toilet’s built-in trap.
3. When you hit the clog, keep cranking to break it up or hook it. Retract the cable slowly while turning.
4. Flush once to test. Run the auger again if the water still drains slowly.

If an object such as a toy is stuck, an auger can sometimes hook it, but it can also push it deeper. If you can see the object, put on gloves and try to remove it by hand first.

What not to flush

Most clogs come from things that should not be in a toilet at all. The EPA’s rule of thumb is to flush nothing but human waste and toilet paper. Its list of items never to flush includes non-flushable wipes such as baby wipes and other wet wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, diapers, dental floss, cat litter, cooking grease and pharmaceuticals. Wipes labeled “flushable” are a frequent cause of drain line clogs because they do not break down the way toilet paper does.

Common mistakes

• Pouring chemical drain cleaner into a toilet. It rarely reaches the clog, it can damage seals, and it creates a splash hazard if you plunge afterward.
• Using a sink plunger. It cannot seal the toilet drain.
• Plunging too hard. Violent strokes splash dirty water and can break the wax seal under the toilet.
• Forcing a metal snake without a guard. A regular drain snake can scratch the bowl permanently; use a toilet auger.

When to call a plumber

Call a plumber if neither plunger nor auger clears the clog, if the toilet clogs repeatedly with normal use, if water leaks from the base of the toilet, or if other drains in the house back up or gurgle when you flush. Those signs point to a blockage in the drain line or main sewer, which may need a long drain machine or a camera inspection. If sewage is backing up into a tub or floor drain, stop using water in the house until the line is cleared.