All our lives, we dread hearing those three words: “The toilet is clogged.” It can happen so quickly: food scraps or too much paper can quickly clog the toilet. We learn early on that only toilet paper belongs in the toilet. But even those who follow the rules aren’t necessarily spared. Yet toilet clogs can often be fixed with little effort. Say goodbye to the plumber; here are our tips and tricks.
Use a PET bottle as a plunger
A little tip before you start: this method only works if the toilet bowl is not too badly clogged. Don’t have a plunger at home? A PET bottle works just as well as a plunger. Here’s how it works: Cut off the bottom of a 2-liter PET bottle. Then, screw the cap back on and place the bottle over the drain with the cut-off end. You need to squeeze the bottle firmly to create a vacuum in the drain. If the water in the drain starts to bubble, that’s a good sign: the blockage is loosening. If you want to be on the safe side, flush the toilet a few times at the end. And just like that, your toilet clogs are fixed.
Hot water helps!
Pouring a load of hot water into a clogged toilet can work wonders. However, if you want the delicate ceramic of the toilet to survive the procedure, it is better not to use boiling hot water. Pour the water into the toilet bowl from a height of about one meter. Often, the energy of the fall alone is enough to remove the blockage. Now wait a few minutes until the drain is completely clear again. Unfortunately, this trick does not work if the blockage is in the pipe.
Baking soda and vinegar – a good mixture
Acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate (the main ingredient in baking soda) react violently with each other. This produces carbon dioxide. A miracle weapon that kills the deposits in the toilet drain. How does it work?
Simply pour a packet of baking soda into the toilet drain. Then pour a bottle of household vinegar into the drain, and it will start to foam and bubble. Stir the mixture carefully so that the killer combination can react ideally. The stirring utensil should then be disposed of. Leave the mixture to stand for 10 minutes, and in the meantime, heat approximately. 3 liters of water. Pour the hot water into the drain – this causes the vinegar and baking powder to react even more strongly with each other. If the miracle mixture is left to work overnight, it will unfold its full effect: the blockage will be gone the next day!
Important: As the reaction between vinegar and baking powder produces fumes, make sure the bathroom is well ventilated! Vinegar and water can splash when poured in; gloves and safety goggles are essential.
The good old toilet brush is unbeatable
We often don’t appreciate it enough: the toilet brush. For clogged toilets, try this tip: First, push all objects such as toilet paper away from the drain. Then simply place the toilet brush over the drain and quickly move it up and down. This creates a vacuum, similar to a plunger. And just like that, you’ve got rid of the blockage. If you flush the toilet several times afterwards, everything should work perfectly again.
How effective is the famous plunger?
The good old plunger is not only suitable for cleaning drains – its function. It can do much more. If you have a plunger, you can easily repurpose it to unclog the toilet.
Our trick: First, remove the worst of the toilet paper clogs from the toilet (disposable gloves are useful for this). Then place the plunger over the drain and make sure it covers it completely. Press the suction cup toward the drain and then pull it toward you. Do not remove it from the drain while doing so. Repeat the process several times until the blockage is cleared. If the plunger has no effect, the blockage is deep in the pipes.
Be careful when using a drain snake
If the blockage in a pipe cannot be reached directly, a pipe cleaning toilet snake can be used. Be sure to use rubber gloves first! There are different attachments available depending on the intended use. It’s that simple: First, carefully insert the snake into the drain pipe. Then, applying gentle pressure, twist it through the drain and siphon it into the downpipe. This should loosen the blockage.
Finally, pull the snake out of the pipe and rinse it thoroughly with water. Be careful when using electric plumbing snakes. The pipe can easily be damaged. The plumbing snake often gets stuck in the pipe. If this happens, turn the snake in the opposite direction. This helps!
Chemical pipe cleaners are harmful to the environment
Chemical pipe cleaners are available as liquids or granules. In any case, they contain highly concentrated alkaline ingredients, which are highly corrosive and thus break down organic materials such as hair and grease, clearing the drain.
Biological pipe cleaners are better for the environment, but they also take significantly longer to unblock the drain and are often not quite as effective as chemical cleaners.
Conclusion: Chemical cleaners work very well, but they are also harmful to the environment and must be handled with care.
With a few tips and tricks, the problem of toilet clogs can be solved quickly. Do you know any other tips? Here you can learn many more exciting cleaning tips that will make your everyday life easier.
