HOW-TO GUIDES
How to unblock a toilet: step-by-step guide (year)
Updated 08/26
By: Olivia Scammell
Reviewed: Alex Peters
A blocked toilet has a habit of happening at the worst possible moment, but in most cases, it's a straightforward fix once you know what to do.
This guide walks through clearing a blocked toilet with a plunger, methods to try if you don't have one, tools for stubborn clogs, and how to stop the water overflowing while you work.
What to do in the first few minutes to stop an overflow
How to unblock a toilet with a plunger, step by step
Effective methods if you don't have a plunger to hand
Which tools to reach for if plunging alone doesn't work
How to prevent toilets blocking in future
When a blockage needs a professional plumber
Stop your toilet overflowing first
Before anything else, your priority is preventing a mess on the floor.
1. Find the water supply
This is usually a small shutoff valve on the pipe behind the toilet, near floor level.
2. Turn it off
Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the water supply to the cistern. If it's stiff (common with hard water), a drop of penetrating oil can help loosen it.
3. No valve?
On older toilets without a shutoff valve, lift the cistern lid and prop up the float (the ball or cup that drops as the tank empties) with a piece of wood or a straightened coat hanger, so the tank doesn't refill when you flush.
4. Bowl already full?
Bail out excess water with a small container into a bucket rather than flushing again, which risks tipping it over the edge.
Line the floor around the toilet with old towels or newspaper, and put on rubber gloves before you go any further.
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How to unblock a toilet with a plunger
A flanged toilet plunger (one with an extended rubber lip, rather than a flat cup design meant for sinks) creates a much better seal in a toilet bowl.
1. Check there's enough water in the bowl
You need enough to fully submerge the plunger head, so top it up if needed.
2. Position the plunger
Place it over the drain hole at an angle first, so it fills with water rather than trapping air, then straighten it to form a seal.
3. Plunge in a firm push-pull motion
Keep the seal intact - push down firmly, then pull up sharply. Repeat for around a dozen plunges before checking.
4. Flush to test
If the water drains away normally, the blockage has cleared. If it hasn't moved, repeat the process a few more times before trying another method.
Running the plunger head under hot water first softens the rubber slightly, so it forms a tighter seal.
Once you're done, clean the plunger thoroughly - flush the toilet a few times and rinse the plunger head with diluted bleach before putting it away.
How to unblock a toilet without a plunger
If you don't have a plunger to hand, a few alternative methods can work, roughly in order of how much mess they involve:
The dish soap and hot water method
Squeeze a generous amount of washing-up liquid into the bowl and let it sit for around 15-30 minutes to help break down the blockage. Then carefully pour in a bucket of hot (not boiling) water from waist height - boiling water risks cracking porcelain, so stick to hot tap water. Leave for ten minutes, then flush.
The baking soda and vinegar method
Add a mug of baking soda followed by two mugs of vinegar to the bowl and let the mixture fizz for 15-20 minutes before flushing. This works well on soft, organic blockages rather than solid objects.
The wire coat hanger method
Straighten out a wire coat hanger and use it to gently break up or hook out a visible blockage, being careful not to scratch the porcelain. Follow up with the dish soap method to help clear any remaining residue.
The plastic bottle method
Cut the bottom off a plastic bottle, keep the cap on, and use it as an improvised plunger - pushing it up and down while submerged to create suction, similar to a real plunger.
If none of these clear it, or you'd rather not tackle it by hand, hiring a plumber is a straightforward next step.
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Tools for a stubborn toilet blockage
Around 4 in 10 toilet clogs need more than a plunger to shift, particularly if the blockage is deep in the trap or drain.
Toilet auger (also called a closet auger) - a flexible cable with a curved sleeve designed specifically for toilets, which protects the bowl's porcelain as you feed it through the trap.
Plumbing snake - a smaller, similar tool for softer or shallower blockages.
Never use a standard sink or bath drain snake in a toilet. The exposed metal coil isn't designed to protect porcelain and can scratch or even crack the bowl - always use a tool designed specifically for toilets.
To use a toilet auger: feed the cable into the bowl until you meet resistance, then turn the handle clockwise to break through or hook the blockage. Once the tool moves freely, withdraw it slowly and flush to test.
If the blockage turns out to be further down the system rather than in the toilet itself, our guide on what to do about a blocked outside drain covers the next steps, or a plumber can diagnose exactly where the problem sits.
Preventing future toilet blockages
Flush and clean the toilet bowl regularly - this also gives you an early warning of slow draining or weak flushes before they become a full blockage.
Only flush toilet paper and human waste. Wipes, cotton wool, and sanitary products don't break down the way toilet paper does, even when labelled "flushable."
If your flush seems consistently weak, this can be a sign of a wider issue - our guide on a toilet not flushing properly covers common causes.
The 5 most common signs of a blocked drain
Here are the signs your drains are blocked and what you can do about it.
What to check first
Blocked toilet checklist
When to call a plumber for a blocked toilet
Some situations are better handed over to a professional:
You've tried plunging and the auger with no success after a few attempts
The blockage recurs every few days, which points to a deeper problem in the drain or soil pipe
Multiple fixtures in the house are draining slowly at the same time, which points to a blockage further down the system rather than just the toilet
You suspect a solid object (a toy, for example) is stuck rather than a soft, soluble blockage
A plumber has access to more powerful equipment, like an electric drain cleaner, for blockages beyond the reach of a household auger, and any work carried out by a Checkatrade member is covered by our guarantee.
See our toilet unblocking cost guide for typical pricing, or our plumber call-out charges guide if you need someone out urgently.
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FAQs
Leaving it for a few hours often lets the paper break down naturally. If it's still blocked afterwards, a toilet auger can hook out or break up the remaining lump effectively.
Add a mug of baking soda followed by two mugs of vinegar into the bowl, let it fizz for around 15-20 minutes, then flush. This works best on soft, organic blockages rather than solid objects.
A flanged toilet plunger is the first port of call, followed by a toilet auger (closet auger) for deeper or tougher clogs. Avoid using a standard sink or bath drain snake, as it can scratch or crack the porcelain.
Turn off the water supply valve behind the toilet (or prop up the cistern float on older toilets without a valve), and bail out excess water with a small container rather than flushing again.
Avoid boiling water - it can crack porcelain. Hot tap water is a safer choice and, combined with dish soap, can still help loosen many blockages.
If plunging and a toilet auger haven't worked, or the blockage keeps coming back, it's time to call a plumber. Recurring or multi-fixture blockages often point to an issue further down the drain system.
Costs depend on how straightforward the blockage is and whether specialist equipment is needed. See our toilet unblocking cost guide for a full breakdown.
Frequent blockages are often caused by flushing non-flushable items (wipes, cotton wool, sanitary products), an older low-flush toilet, or a partial blockage further down the drain that never fully clears. If it keeps happening, it's worth getting a plumber to check the drain run.
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