How to unclog a toilet when it's full?

Author: Crystal Feeney PhD  |  Last update: Saturday, April 26, 2025

If the toilet is filled to the brim, you will need to remove some of the water first. Pour a gallon of hot water into the bowl and let it sit. Boiling water can risk breaking the porcelain, but an influx of hot water is an effective first step to disintegrate and dislodge the blockage. Try to flush out the blockage.

How do you unclog a toilet that is full of water?

Hot Water and Dish Soap: Add a few cups of hot (but not boiling) water and a few squirts of dish soap into the toilet bowl. Let it sit for a while, and then flush to see if the clog has cleared. Baking Soda and Vinegar: Pour about a cup of baking soda into the toilet, followed by two cups of vinegar.

How do you unblock a full toilet?

Unblocking your toilet using washing up liquid

Start by squeezing in about half a bottle of the washing up liquid, which will then sink to the bottom of the toilet bowl. Next, pour in the bucket of water to flush the washing up liquid down the u-bend. With a bit of luck, this will clear the blockage.

Will letting a clogged toilet sit unclog it?

Answer: No. It will not work. You will need a plunger, a poop stick, a poop knife, or your brother's shoes to mix it all up into a flushable condition.

How to unclog a toilet when nothing works?

If plunging the toilet doesn't work, here are seven ways to fix a clogged toilet.
  1. Drain snake. If the plunger isn't working, your next best option is to use a drain snake. ...
  2. Boiling Water. ...
  3. Chemical Drain Cleaners. ...
  4. Baking Soda Mixture. ...
  5. Vinegar Mixture. ...
  6. Squirt Gun Drainer. ...
  7. Call a Plumber.

How To Unclog A Toilet Without A Plunger

How to fix a toilet bowl that keeps filling up?

How to Fix a Running Toilet
  1. Check the Overflow Tube Height. The overflow tube is a part of the flush valve assembly. ...
  2. Lower the Water Level in the Tank. ...
  3. Inspect the Flush Valve Chain. ...
  4. Check the Flapper. ...
  5. Replace the Flush Valve. ...
  6. Replace the Fill Valve.

Will a toilet clog eventually dissolve?

Clogs consisting of degradable materials like waste and toilet paper could clear on their own over time. These substances break down within water and don't always require you to take action to eliminate blockages. However, non-degradable clogs won't resolve on their own and can lead to other serious issues.

Why is my toilet still clogged even after I use the plunger?

You might be using the plunger wrong

If the water level is low, the plunger may not seal properly or achieve the suction it needs to be effective. Pour water into the toilet if you need to. Position the plunger directly over the drain opening and plunge slowly and gently a few times. This ensures you have a good seal.

What is the strongest thing to unclog a toilet?

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.

When I flush my toilet, it fills up with water then slowly drains.?

Check your water levels

Low water levels in your tank are common causes of toilets filling up with water when flushed. They can also cause slow-draining toilets. You can manually top up your tank with water to help the flush. Then, check the flush tube for cracks and bends that lead to leaks.

What will dissolve a blocked toilet?

Baking Soda And Vinegar

Instead of creating a volcano, this vinegar and baking soda mixture will work together to loosen up the clog in almost no time. We suggest wearing rubber gloves for this. As this method creates a pretty chemical reaction, it is recommended that you use it in a toilet bowl that is not too full.

How do you unclog a fully clogged toilet?

DIY drano bomb: Mix two cups of baking soda, eight to ten tablespoons of dish detergent, and a quarter cup of Epsom salt. Let this mixture sit and harden overnight. Drop one of these “bombs” into the toilet bowl along with four cups of water. Wait 30 minutes, then flush.

How to get rid of a big poop that won't flush?

Solution (s)
  1. Utilise a toilet plunger. It is a tool with a suction cup at the end that is used to unblock clogged drains and toilets. All you need to do is keep plunging.
  2. Another suggestion is to use a drain auger or toilet snake. Push it into the toilet bowl and turn it to get rid of the clog.

Will dish soap unclog a toilet?

Pouring dish soap down a toilet will unclog many obstructions. Pour 1/2- to 1-cup of dish soap directly in the toilet water and wait about 30 minutes before flushing. Follow the dish soap with a gallon of hot water if dish soap alone does not work. What is the strongest thing to unclog a toilet?

How to unclog a toilet full of waste?

Pour 1 cup of baking soda and 2 cups of vinegar into your toilet. It will begin to fizz but this is okay. Let it sit for about 30 minutes and then try a test flush. DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Coat Hanger Drain Snake – Sometimes clogs are just too stuck for a liquid method to work.

How to unclog a toilet that won't unclog?

We recommend you add a cup of baking soda to your blocked toilet and wait for some minutes. Next, pour two cups of vinegar slowly into the toilet. Vinegar and baking soda will typically react to form bubbles, so ensure you pour carefully and slowly to prevent the toilet water from overflowing or splashing.

Does flushing a clogged toilet make it worse?

Start by using a plunger gently to try to push the tissue through. Avoid flushing repeatedly as this can cause the toilet to overflow.

How to unclog a toilet when water is high?

Align the rubber cup of a toilet plunger over the centre of the hole of the toilet bowl. Apply downward pressure slowly at first, gradually increasing the speed and intensity. If a clog has caused the overflow, a plunger will dislodge the mass and allow water to escape through the plumbing.

Is it okay to leave a clogged toilet overnight?

Letting a clogged toilet sit too long can result in more severe problems. Beyond the risk of overflow and water damage, the clog could also cause toilet water to back up into other parts of your plumbing system, affecting sinks, showers, and even your home's main sewer line.

How do you unblock a toilet that keeps filling up?

Recap of Methods:
  1. Hot Water Method: Utilizes hot water to create pressure and dislodge blockages.
  2. Plunger Method: Creates suction and pressure to clear blockages.
  3. Baking Soda and Vinegar Method: Chemical reaction to break down blockages.
  4. Toilet Auger Method: Physically removes or breaks up stubborn blockages.

How to force a toilet to flush?

3 Ways to Manually Flush a Toilet
  1. Throw a Bucket of Water into the Toilet Bowl. One of the simplest ways to manually flush your toilet is pouring a bucket of water into the toilet bowl. ...
  2. Pour Water Into the Toilet Tank. ...
  3. Pull the Rubber Flapper in the Toilet Tank.

What happens if a toilet runs all night?

What happens if a toilet runs all night? If a toilet runs all night it will waste water and increase your water bill. Excess water can potentially flood your septic tank and lead to failure and saturation of your drain field.

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