Many of us have been there, but no one wants to find themselves trying to unclog a toilet with no plunger. It’s a problematic (not to mention embarrassing) issue that can seem impossible to solve. But don’t worry. We’ll share plenty of ways to clear those stubborn clogs without heading to the hardware store. Let’s learn the dos and don’ts of unclogging a toilet without a plunger.
Excess amounts of human waste or too much toilet tissue can cause moderate clogs. More serious ones can result from larger items or things you shouldn’t flush. Remember, never flush anything that doesn’t come out of your body other than toilet paper, no matter how a company markets a product. For example, flushable wet wipes can still cause clogs.
In some cases, bleach can unclog a toilet. To try it, put on protective gloves and eyewear and pour a few cups into the bowl. Give it 10 or 15 minutes to work, and then flush the toilet. Bleach can degrade biological substances enough to allow the natural force of your toilet to clear the remaining clog. Still, this will likely only work on light clogs. More significant ones require a more involved unclogging procedure.
Drano is generally not recommended for use in toilets. The primary reason is that it simply doesn’t work fast enough to dissolve toilet clogs, and long-lasting exposure to the harsh chemicals in Drano can damage your toilet. Even worse, introducing Drano into your toilet risks harming yourself or others if it splashes while attempting other unclogging methods. Generally, you should leave the Drano out of any toilet-clearing procedures.