Probably every third person at least once in his life has faced the problem of a clog in the toilet bowl. This problem always catches you by surprise and brings a number of inconveniences. The harbingers of the lurking danger of a clog can be weak water outflow, the appearance of cloudy water with residual waste when flushing the toilet, water coming in after pressing the flush button. If you still missed the moment with the precursors, do not hurry to despair, because there are cases when you can clean the toilet bowl without the help of a plumber.
After reading this article, you can be ready for the catch that lurks in the sewer system of your apartment or house. We have collected the most effective methods of cleaning the toilet bowl. You will not always need special tools or a plumbing rope to solve the problem. In the simplest situations, you can use the most common tools at hand.
WHAT CAN CAUSE A CLOG?
Many reasons can trigger a clog in the toilet bowl: from the initial incorrect installation of plumbing fixtures by builders to operational errors on the part of residents.
Let’s take a look at the main factors that can affect the occurrence of a pipe clog:
- incorrectly selected drain pipe for your apartment connection can cause poor outflow of water, which will subsequently lead to a blockage
- A similar situation occurs when the angle of the drain pipe is incorrect, in which case you have to dismantle the plumbing and change the angle.
- Sometimes floor rags and other textile items accidentally fall into the toilet bowl, which leads to the appearance of a tight plug inside
- we are all accustomed to flush into the toilet bowl the remains of missing food, canned food, cat litter for the litter box
- the consequences of renovation: dust, cement residue and construction crumbs become destructive for your toilet bowl.
- seemingly simple toilet paper in large quantities can also cause a blockage
All this accumulates inside the pipe and leads to a gradual clogging of the plumbing. We have dealt with the causes, but how to clean the toilet bowl? What to do with a clog?
START BY PUMPING OUT THE WATER
The first thing you need to do is to pump the water out of your clogged toilet bowl so that you can begin cleaning. If your toilet bowl is completely clogged, water can no longer flow into the drain. It is therefore necessary to pump the water out of the toilet bowl itself. To do this, you can use an empty plastic bottle or similar container in which you can create pressure by squeezing. The mechanics are simple: you need to squeeze and unclench the bottle, creating pressure to pump out the water.This technique will help you quickly and efficiently remove water from the bowl and even the siphon.
HOW TO LOCATE THE CLOG
In order to begin work on the clog – it is necessary to understand exactly where the clog is located. There are a few simple rules that will help you in determining.
- If there are no drainage problems in the bathtub and sink, your problem is localized in the toilet bowl.
- When there is a clog in the communal pipe, the stagnant water is in the bathtub.
- Provided that your toilet spews everything that is flushed by the tenants living on the floor, you are faced with a clog in the riser pipe of the house. Such a problem is impossible to fix on your own. Call a plumber for help.
WAYS TO REMOVE CLOGS AT HOME: MECHANICAL CLEANING METHODS
Let’s first consider those options when you have the necessary tools at home. The simplest and most effective way is to clean the toilet bowl with the help of a plumbing cable or a plunger. These devices are effective and belong to mechanical types of clog removal.
CLEANING WITH A ROPE
If you have a plumbing rope at home, you can easily clear a simple clog within your apartment plumbing. To work with a rope, you need to make sure that this type is suitable for the diameter of your pipes. After that, check the length of the rope. More often than not, cables of 3-4 meters are optimal for this problem.
Lower the working side of the cable into the toilet bowl, having previously fluffed the end into a ruffle shape for greater efficiency. Gradually push the cable into the toilet bowl by turning it clockwise. When you reach the clog, speed up the rotation and apply a little more force. You will be able to push the clog all the way to the common drain. To consolidate success, flush the toilet bowl with hot water.
CLEANING THE TOILET BOWL WITH A PLUNGER
Most often it is the plunger is the most common object for cleaning the plumbing in the house. The principle of operation is quite simple, you just need to close the toilet drain hole with the rubber part of the plunger. Then we make rhythmic pushes with the handle of the plunger. If the clog or blockage is not too serious, this method will be sufficient.
WHAT ELSE CAN BE USED AS A PLUNGER?
What do you do if you just don’t have a plunger in your house? You can quickly and easily unclog your own toilet bowl with the help of:
- plastic bottle
- sanitary or food wrap
- tape
HOW TO REMOVE A CLOG IN THE TOILET BOWL WITH A BOTTLE
To eliminate the clog with the help of a bottle, take any plastic bottle. Cut off the bottom of the bottle and tightly screw the cap on the other side. Place the bottle in the toilet bowl and begin to perform the same actions as with the plunger.
HOW TO REMOVE A CLOG IN THE TOILET BOWL WITH THE HELP OF FOOD FILM
There is also a special sanitary film, the principle of which is similar to the plunger. To do this, you need to stretch the film around the entire perimeter of the toilet seat to form a tightly stretched surface. After that, you need to start pressing and releasing the film to break through the clog inside the toilet bowl.
Similar actions can be performed with the help of scotch tape. Tape the duct tape tightly together to form a tight film. Also press and release to push the plug through the pipe.
HOW TO REMOVE A CLOG IN THE TOILET BOWL WITHOUT A PLUNGER OR CABLE
If you do not have anything similar to a cable or a plunger, you can always try to simulate the principle of operation of a special technique. To choose the most suitable option for you, we have collected all possible ways of cleaning with the help of improvised means:
- “Weighted with sand” – the point of this method is to take a cloth bag to push the clog in the toilet bowl. To do this, you will need some sand, rocks, or something heavy that you can put inside. Make sure that when you attach the bag to the rope, the knot is secure. In the event that the bag is secured poorly and slips, you will add problems to the clog that has already formed.
- “Hanger” – The method is simple in that almost every home may have an ordinary wire hanger. The kind you get at the dry cleaners. Bend and straighten the hanger, leaving a hook on one end of the hanger. This hook will help us get rid of the clog that has formed in the toilet bowl. To prevent damage to the toilet bowl, tightly wrap the hook with a rag. Act on the same principle, shoving the hanger into the toilet bowl and gradually pushing the clog to the exit.
FOLK METHODS TO REMOVE A CLOG IN THE TOILET BOWL
Whatever mechanical methods to eliminate the clog we do not describe in this article, most likely, many people turn exactly to the good old “folk”. Therefore, we decided to remind you of the most effective of them.
Boiling water
This method is suitable only if you do not have plastic pipes, as they can burst or be damaged in the process of such cleaning. In order to clean the toilet bowl with boiling water, it is necessary to pour water from a bucket vertically into the toilet bowl. Thus the right pressure will be formed, which will help to clear the clog. If the water in the bowl starts to decrease, you are close to success. Sometimes it is worth repeating the procedure several times.
Soda and vinegar
The principle of this scheme is very similar to the use of special household chemicals. But if the clog caught you by surprise and there is no time to go to the store, you can resort to this. One of the options assumes that you pour half a pack of soda into the toilet bowl, then pour boiling water over it and leave it for at least half an hour. During this time, the clog should dissolve. The second option is a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Also pour half a pack of baking soda into the hole, pour vinegar and leave it for at least half an hour. After that, rinse the toilet bowl with cold water and leave it for a couple more hours.
Mustard
The mustard method of cleaning can also be just as effective. If the clog is not too strong, the mustard method is used. To do this, you need to dilute 4-5 spoons of mustard in 7-8 liters of hot water. The mixture is poured into the toilet bowl. After which also wait for half an hour. If necessary, it is recommended to repeat the procedure 2-3 times.
Household chemicals
For those who do not want to “invent a bicycle”, the option with already existing special cleaning products is perfect. All of them are quite effective and suitable for different types of pipes. Each of these products has detailed instructions for use. Be careful when choosing products to clean your plumbing, as products containing alkali and acid can be harmful. They can only make the clog worse and clearing the clog much more difficult.
