How to Unclog a Toilet
Updated February 20, 2026
Clear a clogged toilet with a flange plunger, hot water and soap, or a toilet auger -- without cracking the porcelain or wrecking the wax ring.
Overview
Most dreaded plumbing problem, easiest to fix. The vast majority of toilet clogs clear in under 10 minutes with a flange plunger and proper technique. Most clogs happen in the built-in trap -- the S-shaped passage in the first 12 inches of the drain. Toilet paper, waste, and the occasional foreign object get stuck there. A plunger handles 95% of them. This guide gives you four methods in order: plunging, hot water and soap, toilet auger, and knowing when to call for help.
What You'll Need
Safety First
- Do not flush again if the bowl is full or near the rim. A second flush overflows it onto the floor. Wait 10-15 minutes for the level to drop before plunging.
- Never use chemical drain cleaners in a toilet. They are designed for sinks, can damage the wax ring, crack porcelain from heat, and create a dangerous splash hazard if you plunge afterward.
- Kid flushed a toy or toothbrush? Do not force it through with a plunger. That wedges it deeper. Use a toilet auger to retrieve it, or call a plumber.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Stop the Water and Prepare
Bowl threatening to overflow? Tank lid off, push the flapper down to stop water entering the bowl. Turn off the supply valve behind the toilet (clockwise). Towels around the base for splashes. Rubber gloves on. Water level too high? Bail some into a bucket -- you want it about half full for effective plunging.
Tip: Keep the tank lid off so you can grab the flapper fast. Pressing it down stops flow instantly -- much faster than the supply valve, which takes several turns. -
Plunge with a Flange Plunger (Primary Method)
Flange plunger (rubber cup with an extended flap that fits the toilet drain). Submerge it and angle to fill the cup with water, not air. Fit the flange into the drain, seal it. Firm, consistent strokes -- push forcefully, pull back without breaking the seal. 15-20 strokes. Last stroke: sharp pull up to break suction. Water rushes down? Clog is cleared, flush to verify. No luck? Repeat 3-4 cycles before moving on.
Tip: Most common mistake: air in the cup. Air compresses and does not transmit force. Tilt the plunger underwater to fill it before positioning. Should feel solid hydraulic resistance on each push. Spongy? You have air. -
Try Hot Water and Dish Soap (For Organic Clogs)
Works well on organic clogs by softening and lubricating. Generous squirt of dish soap (about 1/4 cup) into the bowl. Let it sink to the clog for 5-10 minutes. Pour a bucket of hot (not boiling) water from waist height -- force plus heat breaks up the mass, soap lubricates the passage. Wait 10-15 minutes, try flushing. Starts draining slowly? Follow up with plunging to finish it off.
Warning: Hot tap water, not boiling. Boiling water on cold porcelain can crack it from thermal shock. Hot tap (120-140 degrees) is enough to soften organic clogs without risking the bowl. -
Use a Toilet Auger (For Stubborn or Object Clogs)
Plunging and hot water failed? May be a solid object or deep blockage. Toilet auger (closet auger) is built to navigate the trap curves without scratching porcelain. Rubber-coated tip, crank handle. Insert with the curve pointing into the trap, crank clockwise while pushing. Resistance = clog. Keep cranking to break through or hook the object. Pull back slowly. Object? Should come out on the tip. Broke through? Flush to verify and run the auger through once more.
Tip: Toilet auger only -- never a regular drain snake. Exposed metal tips scratch and permanently mark porcelain. Toilet augers have a rubber boot and vinyl-coated cable. $15-30 and reusable for years. -
Clean Up and Verify
Flush 2-3 times to confirm water flows freely and the bowl fills and drains normally. Supply valve back on if you closed it. Tank lid back. Clean the plunger and auger with hot water and disinfectant. Wipe up splashes, wash towels, wash your hands thoroughly even if you wore gloves.
Tip: Pour a bucket of hot water with dish soap into the bowl after clearing. Let it sit 10 minutes before the final flush. Cleans residual buildup from the trap walls and helps prevent a recurrence. -
Prevent Future Clogs
Most clogs are preventable. Only toilet paper goes in -- never wipes (even 'flushable' ones do not break down). Reasonable amounts per flush; if you need a lot, flush partway through. Waste basket next to the toilet for cotton balls, swabs, floss, hygiene products, paper towels, wipes. Toilet clogging frequently with normal use? May have weak flush from mineral buildup in rim jets or a partially blocked trap.
Tip: Young kids? Toilet lock ($5-10). Children flushing toys and toothbrushes is one of the most common causes of clogs that need professional removal.
Pro Tips
- Every household needs a flange plunger, not a cup plunger. The flange creates the seal in a toilet drain. Cup plungers are nearly useless on toilets. $8-15, lasts for years.
- No plunger in an emergency? Wrap a plastic grocery bag around a mop head. Not as good, but can clear a minor clog in a pinch.
- Store the plunger near the toilet. The first minute after a clog (before paper expands) is when plunging works best. Searching for one across the house wastes critical time.
- Same toilet clogging repeatedly with normal use? May be the toilet itself. First-gen 1.6 GPF models from the 1990s are notorious for weak flushes. Modern 1.28 GPF toilets actually flush better due to improved design.
- Never use a wire coat hanger as an auger. It scratches porcelain and the bends are too aggressive for the trap curves. A toilet auger is $15-30 and built for this exact job.
When to Call a Pro
Call a plumber if the auger cannot reach or clear it (blockage may be in the floor drain or main line), if multiple fixtures back up at once (main sewer issue), if you hear gurgling from other drains when flushing (also main line), if a hard object is stuck and the auger cannot retrieve it (toilet may need to come off), or if sewage backs up into the tub or shower (emergency -- stop all water use and call immediately).