Unblock a toilet — HomeGraft

Clear a blocked toilet safely with a plunger and auger, testing carefully so it doesn't overflow.

TU-01Get set up and protect the floorPut on rubber gloves. Lay old towels or newspaper around the base of the toilet in case of splashes or overflow. Move the toilet brush, mat and anything else nearby out of the way.

1 pair · Rubber gloves

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2 each · Old towels

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TU-02Check the water level before doing anything elseLook in the bowl. If the water is right up to the rim, do not flush again — it will overflow. If it's high, bail some out with a jug into a bucket until the level drops by a few centimetres, then start work.

1 each · Bucket

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1 each · Jug

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TU-03Try washing-up liquid and warm water firstSqueeze a good squirt of washing-up liquid into the bowl, then pour in a kettle of warm (not boiling) water from waist height. Leave it for 10-15 minutes. This softens paper and waste and sometimes clears a mild blockage without any tools.

1 bottle · Washing-up liquid

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TU-04Plunge the toiletUse a proper toilet plunger with a flanged rubber cup, not a flat sink plunger — it needs to seal round the curved outlet. Push down slowly first to force out trapped air, then plunge sharply 10-15 times keeping the seal tight. Flush gently to test rather than a full flush.

1 each · Toilet plunger

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TU-05Use a toilet auger for a stubborn blockageIf plunging hasn't worked after a few goes, feed a toilet auger into the bowl outlet and turn the handle clockwise to work it through the blockage. Push gently — too much force can crack the porcelain. Withdraw slowly, then test with a small flush.

1 each · Toilet auger

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TU-06Test with a bucket of water, not a full flushPour a bucket of water slowly into the bowl instead of flushing straightaway. Watch whether it drains away at a normal speed. This checks the blockage has actually cleared without risking a big overflow if it hasn't.

TU-07Know when to stop and call a plumberIf two or three rounds of plunging and augering haven't worked, stop — repeated flushing just risks a bigger overflow. A blockage that won't clear may be further down the soil pipe than you can reach. If several drains or toilets in the house are blocked at the same time, the problem may be in a shared or public sewer past your boundary.

RULES

KNOW THE RULES

Under the Water Industry Act 1991, the water company is usually responsible for clearing blockages in a shared lateral drain or public sewer beyond your property boundary — not you.

TU-08Clean and disinfect everything you usedRinse the plunger and auger, then wipe them down with disinfectant before putting them away. Clean the bowl, seat and any splashed floor area with a suitable cleaner. Wash your hands thoroughly even though you wore gloves.

1 bottle · Disinfectant spray

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2 each · Cleaning cloths

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TU-09Tidy up and finishBin the used gloves and any paper towels in a sealed bag. Open a window briefly to clear odours. Put the toilet brush and mat back, and do one more normal flush to confirm everything is draining properly.

1 each · Bin bags

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