How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

Co-authored by James Schuelke and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: January 2, 2024 Approved

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Clogged toilets are an inconvenience since they are unusable until they’re fixed and have a risk of flooding. If your toilet is clogged and you don’t have a plunger nearby, you can still use many other things in your household to loosen the blockage. For a serious clog, you may need to use a special toilet auger to break it apart. When you’re finished, your toilet should work like new!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Dish Soap and Hot Water

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Pour liquid dish soap directly into the toilet bowl so it can sink to the bottom. Over the next 25 minutes, the soap will make the pipes more slippery so it’s easier for the clog to move through the toilet. During this time, you may notice the water level go down as the clog loosens up.^{[1]
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Tip: Don’t use bar soaps or shampoos since they contain fats and could add to the clog.
2
Pour 1 US gal (3.8 L) of hot water into the toilet bowl. Use the hottest that comes out of your bath faucet. Slowly add the water to the toilet bowl directly over the drain to help force the clog down. The hot water paired with the soap could break apart the clog so your toilet can flush again.^{[2]
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- Only pour hot water into the bowl if there’s no risk of it overflowing.
- You can also add 1 cup (200 g) of Epsom salt to help break apart the clog.
Warning: Never pour boiling water in your toilet bowl. The sudden heat change could crack the porcelain or ceramic and damage your toilet.

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Flush your toilet as normal and see if it drains completely. If it does, then the dish soap and hot water worked as intended. If not, you may try again or try to break the clog a different way.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Mixing Baking Soda and Vinegar

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Dump the baking soda directly into the water. Try to spread it evenly throughout the bowl so it covers all of the surfaces. Wait until the baking soda sinks to the bottom of the toilet before moving on.^{[4]
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Tip: If you have room in your toilet, you can also add 1 US gal (3.8 L) of hot water to help break apart the clog.
2
Add 2 c (470 ml) of vinegar to the toilet. Slowly pour the vinegar into your toilet. Work in a circular pattern so the vinegar evenly distributes throughout the bowl. As it mixes with the baking soda, it will start to fizz and bubble due to a chemical reaction.^{[5]
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- Make sure not to add the vinegar so fast that the fizz goes over the edge of your toilet or else you’ll have a bigger mess to clean up.
3
Let the mixture sit for 1 hour before flushing it. As the vinegar and baking soda react, they’ll break down the clog so it can fit through your pipes more easily. Use another bathroom or wait until 1 hour has passed before trying to flush it.^{[6]
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- If the water still doesn’t go down, try adding the same amount of baking soda and vinegar, but let it sit overnight.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Breaking Apart the Clog with a Hanger

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Grab the hook with a pair of needle-nose pliers to hold it securely. Grab the bottom part of the hanger and twist it counterclockwise to unwind it. Once it’s unwound, straighten out the hanger as much as you can, leaving the hook intact so you can use it as a handle.^{[7]
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2
Tie a rag around the end of your hanger. Use the end of the hanger that doesn’t have the hook. Wrap the rag around the hanger and tie a knot so it stays in place. The rag will help prevent any damage to your toilet as you feed it into your pipes.^{[8]
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- Choose a cleaning rag that you don’t need to save since it will get very dirty when it breaks apart the clog.
3
Pour ¹⁄₄ c (59 ml) of dish soap into your toilet. Let the soap settle on the bottom of your toilet bowl. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before you use your hanger. During this time, the soap will help lubricate the clog and make it easier to break apart.^{[9]
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- If you don’t have liquid dish soap, you can also use any other sudsy liquid cleaner, such as shampoo or body wash.
4
Feed the end of the wire hanger with the rag into the toilet bowl. Hold the hook of the hanger securely in your non-dominant hand. Push the end of the hanger with the rag into your toilet so it goes into the drain. Keep feeding the hanger into your pipes until you feel a clog or until you can’t feed any more.^{[10]
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- Wear rubber cleaning gloves if you don’t want the toilet water to splash up.
Warning: The wire hanger may scratch the bottom of your toilet bowl. If you don’t want to risk scratching your toilet, use a toilet auger tool.
5
Jostle the hanger in your pipes to break apart the clog. Use swift up and down movements to hit the clog. The clog should loosen and the water level in your toilet will go down. Keep breaking apart the clog until you can’t feel the obstruction anymore.^{[11]
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- If you don’t feel a clog or obstruction, it may be deeper in your pipes.
6
Flush your toilet. Once the hanger is removed, try flushing your toilet like normal. If the hanger was effective, then the water should drain easily. If not, then you can try again to break the clog more.^{[12]
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- If the hanger doesn’t work for a second time, call a plumber to assess the problem.

Join the Discussion...

I can't call a plumber but my toilet won't unclog. What can I do?

39

WikiSealChaser638

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... Read More

WikiMistWhisperer229

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 solution... Read More

WikiBandicootJammer750

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 t... Read More

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Warnings

If you’ve tried all the methods listed and your toilet is still clogged, contact a plumber as soon as possible to look at the problem.

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Never pour boiling water into your toilet since the sudden heat could crack the porcelain.^{[13]
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