Liquid dish soap is denser than water, so when dish soap is added to water, it sinks. 1 After the dish soap settles, it loosens the obstruction. Hot water may also help. Knowing how to unclog a toilet with dish soap helps on those occasions when you don't want to use harsh, toxic materials or toilet plungers.
Hot Water and Dish Soap
Wait for 10-15 minutes while the dish soap and hot water soften the clog. Once you do so, the toilet will unclog and flush freely. Alternatively, you could use hot water and shampoo from the sink if you wish to clear your toilet without leaving your bathroom.
“Dish soap serves as a lubricant for clogs and helps them slide through the pipes,” explains Justin Cornforth, an experienced plumber and CEO at Ace Plumbing.
It's pretty simple -- just like they do on food particles that are stuck to your dishes in the sink, the combination of hot water and dish soap help to dissolve and break up whatever it may be that is lodged in the toilet causing a clog. This handy tip is great should you find yourself in a pinch.
One of the strongest substances for unclogging a toilet is a commercial drain cleaner specifically designed for toilet clogs. These cleaners typically contain powerful chemicals that dissolve organic matter and stubborn blockages.
Make your own drain cleaner by pouring one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar into the toilet and adding a half gallon of hot water. Dish soap can also help loosen some obstructions. When using either method, allow the solution to sit overnight and then flush the toilet to see if the obstruction has cleared.
A very good method of unclogging a toilet without the need for a plunger is to use dishwashing liquid, especially if the obstruction is only partially blocked or results from grease or organic waste.
Baking soda, borax and tea tree oil combine to make a heavy-duty toilet bowl cleaner. Baking soda, borax and tea tree oil combine to make a heavy-duty toilet bowl cleaner.
Applying dish soap before the night gives the solution ample time to work its magic. As the hours pass, the dish soap loosens and lifts away the grime that has taken residence on your bathtub's surface.
The dishwasher tablet will start to dissolve the limescale and you can continue until all marks have disappeared. It's a lucky coincidence that smol dishwasher tablets are designed to tackle hard water marks so the limescale deposits in your toilet bowl are completely fair game.
Add a cup of white distilled vinegar to the tank once a month. Leave it to sit overnight and then flush it in the morning. Check for sediment buildup and staining every month or so. This may be especially important if you have hard water or if you have a toilet that doesn't get used very much.
As it turns out, you can actually unclog a toilet with dish soap instead of turning to a harsh, toxic bowl cleaner. Just as natural dish soap helps break down dirt, grease, and food that may be stuck on dishes and utensils, it can help break down what's in your toilet bowl.
The Short Answer Is: A toilet can repeatedly clog due to several reasons, including inadequate flushing power, an obstructed trap or drainpipe, or an accumulation of non-flushable materials like toilet paper, hygiene products, or foreign objects.
If you have a problem toilet that always seems to clog, run continuously, lack flushing power, or is experiencing drainage issues, Roto-Rooter's plumbing specialists can diagnose and fix any toilet problem.
It's the fact that the Platinum product is concentrated, and delivers more of the key grease-fighting, colorless ingredients called “surfactants."
Dawn dish soap is a great product for unclogging and cleaning your drains because it contains chemicals that break down grease and oil. It has a unique blend of ingredients that makes it an effective cleaning agent for greasy surfaces.
Professional cleaners often use the same household supplies as you would: toilet-bowl cleaner (or bleach), disinfectant wipes, rubber gloves, as well as a nonscratch scrub sponge, a microfiber cloth, or paper towels. A handheld scrub brush or a pumice stone can get to especially tough stains.
Vinegar and baking soda: Add 1 or 2 cups of vinegar to the toilet bowl along with a few sprinkles of baking soda. Swish the solution around the bowl with your brush for a few minutes and then let it sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub the stains with your brush (or pumice stone).
Mix baking soda, white citric acid, and essential oils and store in a glass jar until needed. When it's time to clean, measure out some of the powdered mixture plus white vinegar into the toilet and let the fizzing action do most of the cleaning work for you.
Toilet Augers: For Tougher Clogs
This tool can reach deeper into the toilet to break up or pull out the clog.
Mr Muscle Drain Gel is not recommended for use in toilets because the powerful chemicals in the gel can damage the porcelain and the flush mechanism, leading to costly repairs. Instead of risking damage, consider using a plunger or a plumbing snake to clear toilet blockages.