How to Unblock A Toilet

Why Is Your Toilet Blocked?

Toilet blockages are frustrating but common. Understanding the cause can help prevent it from happening again. Some typical reasons include:

• Too much toilet paper flushed at once

• Non-flushable items like wet wipes, sanitary products, nappies or paper towels

• Low-flow toilets that don’t have strong flushing power

• Build-up of limescale or waste in older pipework

• Accidental drops—e.g., a child flushing a toy or object

• Drain line issues such as tree roots, collapsed pipes or fat build-up (especially if kitchen drains connect)

Signs Your Toilet Is Blocked

Before you try to fix it, make sure your toilet is actually blocked. Signs include:

• Water rises after flushing and drains slowly or not at all

• Gurgling sounds from the toilet or nearby drains

• Unpleasant smells coming from the bowl

• Overflowing when you flush (stop flushing immediately if this happens)

How Does a Toilet Work?

A basic understanding of how your toilet functions helps when tackling a blockage:

1. You flush—water rushes from the cistern into the bowl

2. The force pushes waste through the s-shaped trap (or syphon trap)

3. Waste goes into the soil stack or drain, which leads to the sewer

Blockages usually happen at the trap or just beyond it in the soil pipe.

Step-by-Step Guide to Unblocking a Toilet

The following methods are listed from easiest to most involved, so start at the top and work your way down if needed.

1. Hot Water and Washing-Up Liquid

This is the gentlest method and good for light blockages.

How to do it:

• Pour a generous squirt of washing-up liquid into the bowl

• Heat about 2 litres of water to hot (but not boiling—boiling water can crack porcelain)

• Pour the water into the bowl from waist height to add pressure

• Wait 15–30 minutes, then try flushing once

The soap helps lubricate the blockage and the warm water softens it.

2. Use a Plunger

Every household should have a proper toilet plunger—the type with a flanged rubber end, not the flat sink type.

How to do it:

• Make sure there’s enough water in the bowl to cover the rubber part

• Place the plunger firmly over the drain hole

• Push down slowly to create a seal, then pull up sharply—but don’t lift it out of the water

• Repeat for 15–20 seconds, then check the water level

• If it starts to drain, flush to test

A good seal is key—plunging is about pressure, not brute force.

3. Baking Soda and Vinegar

This natural chemical reaction can break down soft blockages.

How to do it:

• Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl

• Follow with 2 cups of white vinegar

• Let it fizz and sit for 30 minutes

• Add hot (not boiling) water, wait another 10 minutes, then flush

This won’t work for solid obstructions but can help with built-up residue or paper.

4. Toilet Brush as a Makeshift Tool

No plunger to hand? A strong toilet brush can sometimes work as a temporary tool.

How to do it:

• Push the brush into the trap firmly and wiggle it back and forth

• Be prepared to clean the brush thoroughly or dispose of it afterwards

This method is more about pressure than precision and should be done with gloves.

5. Toilet Auger (Plumbing Snake)

A toilet auger is a flexible tool designed to push through or retrieve clogs.

How to do it:

• Insert the curved end into the toilet and start turning the handle clockwise

• Continue feeding it gently into the pipe

• If you feel resistance, crank gently—don't force it

• Once you break through or latch onto something, pull the cable out

• Flush to check flow

Ideal for harder blockages or ones further down the pipe.

6. Rodding the Drain (for External Blockages)

If you suspect the issue is outside the house, you may need to use drain rods.

How to do it:

• Locate the outside drain access (usually a manhole cover near your bathroom)

• Put on protective gloves and clothing

• Use flexible drain rods to push through the pipe

• Rotate clockwise to avoid unscrewing the rods in the drain

• Rinse the area and replace the cover

This is best left to professionals if you're unsure.

7. Pressure Washer Drain Attachment

This method uses water pressure to clear deep blockages and build-up.

How to do it:

• Connect a pressure washer with a drain attachment (available at DIY stores)

• Feed the nozzle into the outside drain or soil pipe

• Activate the washer to blast water backwards and clear the line

This is quite advanced and best suited for external pipework or stubborn build-up in long waste runs.

What If None of These Work?

If your toilet remains blocked after trying these methods, it’s time to call a professional plumber. Persistent blockages may indicate:

• Collapsed pipes

• Severe fat or scale build-up

• Tree root intrusion

• Structural issues with the drainage system

Cost of Calling Out a Plumber in the UK

Plumber call-out fees can vary based on your location, time of day, and severity of the issue. Typical costs:

• Standard call-out (weekday): £50–£80

• Hourly rate: £40–£70 per hour

• Emergency call-out (evening/weekend): £100–£150+

Drain unblocking may be a fixed fee, often ranging from £80 to £150 depending on accessibility and tools required.

Where This Leaves You

Toilet blockages are never convenient, but most can be fixed without calling in the pros—if you know what to do. By starting with simple techniques and working your way up, you can often get things flowing again in under an hour. But if you've tried everything and it's still not draining, don’t risk damaging the pipework—get a professional in.

Whether it's a simple blockage or a deeper drain issue, act early, wear gloves, and remember: prevention is easier than clearing up an overflow.