The plunger has earned the distinction as the universal symbol for toilet unclogging. It’s easy to use, it gets the job done, and it’s inexpensive. 

However, you may run into a situation where you don’t have a plunger readily available. You still need to clear the blockage so you can use the toilet without it overflowing. So what do you do?

We have good news. There are other ways to unclog a toilet that don’t require a plunger. Here are some methods.

1. Soap and hot water

• Grab a bottle of dish soap from the kitchen and pour about half of a cup in to the toilet. Then take a bucket, fill it with hot water (but not boiling) and dump it into the toilet bowl. 

• After 10 or 20 minutes, hopefully the soapy mixture will help the contents of the clog slide through the toilet trap and fix the problem.

2. Wire hanger

• Find a metal clothes hanger and unravel the wire until you have a long, straight piece. You can use this as a makeshift snake drain. 

• Put the end of the wire into the toilet and push it through the drain until you reach the clog. 

• Move the wire around until the solids move through the trap and the clog is cleared.

3. Baking soda and vinegar

This method takes you back to your high school science class. 

• First, pour a box of baking soda into the toilet bowl. 

• Then take a gallon of vinegar and slowly pour it into the water. As you probably expected, this results in a fizzy reaction.

• To prevent a mess, you may want to pause while pouring the vinegar every few seconds to let the mixture settle. The fizz will expand and hopefully push the clog through the trap. Try a test flush to see if the blockage is gone.

Other important things to remember

If the toilet is close to overflowing, it’s a good idea to remove the excess water and pour it down another drain before trying to unclog the toilet

• Remember to wear rubber gloves when you may come in contact with wastewater

• Do not pour boiling water into the toilet or you may crack the porcelain

It’s always helpful to have a plunger in your home in case you experience a clogged toilet. But if the tool isn’t available, now you know you have other options to fix the problem.