Add water from the bathroom sink to the bowl if there isn’t enough water to cover the plunger.
Be patient. As long as you don’t have a hard object (like a kid’s toy) stuck in there, plunging alone often suffices. It might not work immediately but will often work after a few dozen plunge cycles.
Flush the toilet 2-4 times once you’re done plunging to move the blockage through the sewer system. [4] X Research source
Use at least half a gallon. A small amount of water won’t work, since it won’t have enough force to push through the clog. The water should be no hotter than a hot tea you can drink comfortably. It should not be boiling, since very hot water can crack porcelain. You want to raise the temperature of the water passing around or pressing on the clog.
If you don’t have baking soda and vinegar on hand, try adding a few squirts of dish soap to the toilet bowl. The soap may help to loosen the clog. [6] X Research source This method isn’t likely to work for clogs caused by a hard obstruction, such as a toy.
If you suspect that there is a hard obstruction, do not use a chemical solution. Instead, use a snake or call a plumber. Only use chemical drain cleaners that are specifically made for toilets. Using other drain cleaners may damage your toilet.
Never use a plunger right after adding drain-cleaning chemicals. These chemicals could possibly shoot back up onto your skin. Make sure the bathroom is well ventilated, so you won’t inhale potentially dangerous chemicals.
Products of this sort can be usually be purchased at home improvement stores in or near the plumbing aisle. Enzyme waste removal is preferable to using a drain-clearing chemical because it will not harm your pipes or the environment. [11] X Research source This method will only work on organic waste, not toys or other objects.
Crank the handle on an auger to push the wire through the clog.
Make sure you’re wearing rubber gloves as you do this. You may get splashed as you move the wire around. If you can’t feel an obstruction, and the toilet won’t drain, the clog must be out of reach of the hanger. Try the plumbing snake method to clear it.
