There are few instances more dreaded than finding yourself in a situation with a clogged toilet and no access to a plunger.
There are few instances more dreaded than finding yourself in a situation with a clogged toilet and no access to a plunger. While most bathrooms should have a plunger at the ready to save anyone embarrassment, there are always instances where you may find yourself looking for alternative ways to fix a clog.
Hot Water
Let’s make one thing clear first, never use boiling water to try to clear a clog. Pouring boiling water can cause the toilet to crack, creating more of a problem than the clog alone. Instead, try slowly pouring a bucket of hot water (about 12 cups) into the basin and allow it to sit for a few minutes. The heat of the water and the addition should help to break up the clog allowing everything to flush normally after a short amount of time.
A Lot of Dish Soap
Using dish soap, especially one with a de-greasing element, if the next best option. Pour a large amount of soap into the toilet bowl and give it at least thirty minutes to work. In some cases, more time might be needed. If you don’t have access to dish soap a basic shampoo will work as well, just make sure it’s not an expensive salon brand before you squeeze a bunch out.
Epsom Salt
If you’ve found yourself stuck in a bathroom where you can’t leave before fixing the clog, using Epsom salts may just be your saving grace. Epsom salts, or a bath bomb if you’re really stuck, cause a soapy, fizzy chemical reaction that helps to clear the drain and break up the clog. That said, you may have to find a clever excuse for why you dropped a bath bomb in the toilet.
Use A Toilet Brush
While this might be the most labor intensive and grossest option, using a toilet brush in place of a plunger is one last way to try to fix a clog. Merely push the brush into the drain hole and pump it several times with moderate force. This may be enough to create the suction needed to force the clog through, or it may be able to reach the problem and break it up manually. Regardless make sure to give a few extra flushes once the clog is cleared to clean the brush off before putting it back.
A RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PLUMBING COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST
Alpha Plumbing is a full-service plumbing and contracting company serving the Baltimore and Annapolis metro area with expertise in all aspects of plumbing. We’re family-owned and operated since 1991 from our office in Pasadena. We offer quality plumbing services at reasonable rates in a timely fashion. Our trucks are equipped with GPS systems to ensure we’re prompt and on time. No job is too large or too small! We maintain a fleet of well-stocked trucks and also own and operate our own backhoes for jobs requiring excavation.
For more information and to get a free no-obligation estimate, you can contact us on our website, send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (410) 255-5998.