Picture this: you’ve rented a lovely Airbnb or RV for the weekend, and you’ve just had an unforgettable meal with friends. Now, nature is calling you, so you hurry to the bathroom and get down to business. Maybe it’s your problem, or maybe the plumbing isn’t up to code, but the toilet is somehow clogged — and there’s no plunger in sight.
Don’t panic. And don’t you dare leave the bathroom in its original condition.
This is what you do. Grab some dish soap, hot water, and a bucket—and let the chemicals go from there. Yes, the plunger-less method really is that simple. Here’s how to achieve this.
For more home tips, see how to kill below There’s mold in the washing machineand 12 simple ways to extend the life of your mattress.
Everything you need to unclog your toilet is probably already in your bathroom
Most clogged toilets can be fixed with soap, hot water, and time.
Again, you only need three supplies found in almost any bathroom: soap, hot water, and a container to transfer the water to the toilet. Dish soap, hot water, and a 5-gallon bucket work best, but if confidentiality is paramount and leaving the bathroom would blow your cover, take a few pumps from the hand sanitizer dispenser and place it in a small plastic bin Just put some hot sink water in the bucket.
First, let the water in your sink or bathtub get hot—as hot as possible. Don’t get ahead of yourself – no need to boil water. At these temperatures, you could break the porcelain, or worse, get injured. Just keep the tap water as hot as possible and you’ll be within range.
While you’re waiting for hot water, start by clearing everything off the floor—scales, bath mats…pets. Of course, you’ll want to be very careful to avoid any spills, but it’s better to be safe than soaking wet.
Keep this inexpensive little bottle of spray in your pocket or bag to keep any bathroom you use smelling fresh.
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Let the chemistry work, but be careful
Your goal is to get the liquid in the toilet as hot and soapy as possible as quickly as possible without letting it overflow. This is the step that requires the most skill.
If you’ve tried flushing the clog a second time and the toilet is overflowing, add soap directly to the toilet and pour as much hot water as you can (if you can).
However, if you have enough space, mix the soap and water first, then pour the suds into the bowl as quickly as possible. In a perfect storm, the heat and soap will lubricate the clogs, and the force of the water will push them away. That said, hopefully you react quickly, because if the clog doesn’t come off right away, you may need to stop pouring suddenly.
A note about soap: You really can’t overdo it at this point. You don’t want to over-stir the solution, so if you do, the bowl will most likely not erupt like a frothy volcano. I’m not saying you have to dump the whole bottle of soap in there, but I’m also not saying you shouldn’t. See what I mean?
Dish soap works best, but in a pinch, hand soap will work too. Then all you need is hot water and something to put in the toilet, like a small trash can.
No matter what, don’t disturb the toilet
Whatever you do, you don’t need to stir it to mix the hot soapy water with the cold dirty water that’s already there. Science will solve this problem for you through a process called osmosis. If the clog doesn’t move after the tsunami of soapy water, the next step is to be patient.
Most toilet backup pipes are not 100% clogged, so your backup toilet will most likely drain slowly at first. Keep an eye on the water level and when it drops, continue to add more hot water to keep it full. If the clog isn’t too stubborn, the extra pressure of a full toilet combined with the lubricating qualities of soap should help drain the clog quickly.
Many bathroom trash cans are small enough to fit under the sink, but if yours isn’t small enough, you can use a tub or shower faucet.
If all else fails, give it more time
The worst thing that can happen is that the clog is wedged too tightly and the steps above won’t push it down right away. If this happens, you don’t have to call a plumber or go to the hardware store.
Try giving it some time for the hot, soapy water to break down the clog. Walk away, close the bathroom door, wait 30 to 60 minutes, and then check again. When you do this, you may be surprised to find that your problems have disappeared.
If you’ve been trying to unclog your toilet incognito, this might mean revealing your identity. The best you can hope for in this situation is not to be the butt of any future jokes.
Good luck to you too.
For more cleaning tips, check out our 14 favorite cleaning tools and how to quickly clean your kitchen in 15 minutes or less.
