The water rises instead of draining. You stand there holding the handle, hoping it stops before the rim. A blocked toilet is one of the most common household problems, and most of the time you can clear it yourself in a few minutes.
Before you start
- Stop flushing. Every flush adds more water.
- Put on rubber gloves and lay old towels around the base.
- Don't pour bleach or drain cleaner in. If you need to plunge later, it can splash on your skin and eyes.
How to unblock a toilet with a plunger
- Use a toilet plunger with a flange (the extra rubber lip underneath). A flat sink plunger won't seal properly.
- Make sure there's enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger cup. Add some from a jug if needed.
- Push the plunger into the hole at the bottom of the bowl so it seals.
- Push down gently first to let the air out, then pump firmly up and down 10 to 15 times, keeping the seal.
- Pull the plunger away. If the water drains, flush once to check. If not, repeat a few times.
How to unblock a toilet without a plunger
- Hot water and washing-up liquid. Squirt a good amount of washing-up liquid into the bowl, then pour in a bucket of hot (not boiling) water from waist height. Leave it for 15 minutes. Boiling water can crack the pan.
- A toilet auger (also called a closet auger). Feed it into the pan and turn the handle to break up or hook the blockage. You can buy one at most DIY shops.
When to stop and call a plumber
- The toilet is badly blocked and nothing has worked after a few tries
- Water is rising in the shower, bath or sink too, which means the blockage is further down
- The outside drain is full or overflowing
- Something solid has gone down, like a toy or a phone
- It keeps blocking every few days
Pushing harder in these cases can crack the pan or push the blockage further into the pipe. See blocked toilets and drains for how we clear them.
How to stop it happening again
Only flush the three Ps: pee, poo and paper. Wet wipes are the biggest cause of blocked toilets in London, even ones labelled flushable. Keep a bin in the bathroom for everything else.
Common questions
How do you unblock a badly blocked toilet?
Use a flanged toilet plunger: seal it over the hole at the bottom of the bowl and pump firmly 10 to 15 times. If that fails, try a toilet auger. If water is rising elsewhere in the house, stop and call a plumber.
How do I unblock a toilet without a plunger?
Add plenty of washing-up liquid, then pour in a bucket of hot (not boiling) water from waist height and wait 15 minutes. A toilet auger from a DIY shop also works well.
Can I use bleach to unblock a toilet?
It's best not to. Bleach rarely clears a blockage, and if you need to plunge afterwards it can splash onto your skin and eyes.