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Clearing a blocked toilet
A blocked toilet is a real pain. Read on to find out what you can do about it.
Content
At a glance
Pour hot water into the toilet to dissolve the blockage
Toilet cleaner can help with minor toilet blockages
Leave vinegar and baking soda to work overnight
Food scraps are the most common cause of a blocked toilet
If household remedies don’t help, call a specialist
How to clear a blocked toilet
Food scraps, wet wipes and other foreign objects can block a toilet in no time at all. It is imperative that you stop using a blocked toilet to prevent making the blockage worse. If your toilet is blocked, a number of household remedies are great at dislodging the blockage and letting the water drain away again.
A toilet brush and hot water
If the blockage is clearly visible and not too far down the pipe, you can usually clear the blocked toilet using a toilet brush. Push the brush as far as you can into the drain – wear household gloves to make the job more manageable – and move it vigorously back and forth. This will loosen any fresh blockages.
If this method fails, hot water will help to dislodge stubborn blockages. Caution: do not use boiling hot water! If the water is too hot, it can damage your toilet’s ceramic or the CeramicPlus coating. Instead, boil several litres of water and then allow it to cool briefly. Next, pour it quickly into the toilet. Let the water sit for a few moments so that the heat has time to dissolve any foreign substances. Then flush once or twice.
Use pressure to clear obstructions: the plunger
The force cup - more commonly known as a plunger - is often the go-to tool when the toilet is blocked. It is also frequently used to clear blocked pipes or drains, even by professionals.
Place the plunger directly over the outlet, preferably so that the plunger itself is under water. Now exert a powerful downward force on the handle and then pull it up again. This will first create underpressure and then overpressure. This has a mechanical effect on the blockage in the toilet and dislodges any foreign materials. However, the plunger will then pull the solids upwards. You will have to wear gloves and remove these solids from the water by hand to prevent them from clogging the system again.