Maybe you’ve gotten a little overzealous with the toilet paper, or you flushed something down your toilet that definitely didn’t belong there in the first place. Either way, you have a clog-sized problem in your life that you simply don’t need right now.

You go to the cabinet to check for a plunger, and you don’t know where you put the darn thing! How can you possibly unclog this toilet without making a mess or ruining your bathroom in the process?

Let’s look at some of the best alternatives to plunging your toilet without a plunger.

Use Dish Soap and Hot Water

Rather than there just being one object obstructing the flushing canal of the toilet, often plumbing maintenance includes the discovery that the pot is plugged with a collection of residue that has built up over the course of months or years.

This means that a plunger is not the best course of action in this scenario, and you should instead opt for the methods that will clear up all of the residue build up first. After this is when you can attack the problem with other tools.

Use dish soap to lubricate the area and the surrounding porcelain before trying to flush out the toilet with hot water from the sink. Put the water that is already in the bowl in a spare bucket so that there is less of a chance for the thing to overflow when you pull the trigger.

The combo of soap and hot water will loosen all of the particles and possible clogging agents so that you can get rid of whatever is blocking the hole much easier.

Try Baking Soda and Vinegar

If the hot water and the dish soap doesn’t do the trick, the next step to try is baking soda and vinegar. These components create an environment that basically simulates the hot water and soap, but with the added benefit of the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar.

The bubbling that is caused by mixing these ingredients creates a carbonation of sorts that will expel the excess messes and clogged bits from the bottom of the bowl. Any brand of baking soda and vinegar will do, so it’s ok to go to the store and pick up the cheapest one you can find.

This method once again requires you to clear out some of the toilet contents into a different bucket so there is no risk of the toilet overflowing when you put in the extra vinegar and soda.

Use a Brush if you Don’t Have a Plunger

We know that plungers are the number one option amongst physical tools to clear a toilet clog, but if you don’t have a plunger, using other similar objects or devices can come in handy. Buy a toilet brush that is shaped just right to fit in the hole, while also grabbing stuff on the sides to get the clog to go away.

You shouldn’t buy anything that will scratch your bowl, so do your research before purchasing anything. Another option is renting a water vacuum from the hardware store, but make sure you consult with the professionals there and tell them what you are using the vacuum for. Never use a vacuum cleaner that would be primarily for the carpet or hardwood floors; you will ruin this type of vacuum.

How to Prevent a Toilet Clog

It can be tempting to use your toilet as a catch-all for things that you don’t want to throw in the garbage but try to avoid using it for anything other than bathroom waste and toilet paper. When you put other objects down the toilet, they don’t dissolve in the water like waste and toilet paper, and that is when a buildup happens that will cause serious trouble.

The best way to prevent a clog is to not put anything down the toilet that doesn’t belong there, and to be sure you’re cleaning your toilet regularly.

Call a Plumber if Nothing is Working

Don’t get intimidated by your toilet clog. It is one of the most common bathroom problems that everyone experiences once in a while.

If you have exhausted all of the other options, we have given you above, enlisting the help of a plumber is your best bet. A plumber will know what to do for your specific toilet, as they have years of experience seeing every type of clog that is possible in a bathroom.

If you just can unclog your toilet, we’re a phone call away and we’ll get your toilet back to it’s best!