A clogged toilet is one of those household problems that always seems to happen at the worst possible moment. If you don't have a plunger handy—or the plunger isn't getting the job done—you may already have another possible solution sitting in your kitchen.
Baking soda and white vinegar can sometimes help loosen a minor toilet clog, particularly one caused by toilet paper or other soft, organic material. The familiar fizzing reaction can help disturb and break apart material while the hot water that follows helps move the loosened clog through the drain.
What You'll Need
- 1 cup baking soda
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 gallon hot water
- A container or bucket for removing excess water, if necessary
How to Unclog the Toilet
1. Check the water level.
If the toilet bowl is already filled close to the top, remove some of the water first. This gives the baking soda and vinegar room to fizz without sending toilet water over the rim—and nobody wants that particular science experiment.
2. Add the baking soda.
Pour 1 cup of baking soda directly into the toilet bowl. Try to distribute it around the bowl rather than dumping it all into one spot.
3. Slowly add the vinegar.
Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the bowl. Add it gradually because the baking soda and vinegar will immediately begin to fizz and bubble.
4. Give it time to work.
Leave the mixture undisturbed for 30 minutes to 1 hour. During this time, the reaction and liquid may help loosen the material causing the blockage.
5. Add hot water.
Carefully pour about 1 gallon of hot—but not boiling—water into the toilet bowl. Boiling water should never be used because the sudden temperature change could potentially crack the toilet's porcelain.
Once the water has been added, see whether the water level begins to drain normally. If it does, carefully try flushing the toilet.
When This Trick Won't Work
Baking soda and vinegar aren't magic drain cleaners. This method is most useful for relatively minor clogs caused by toilet paper and similar material. It is unlikely to solve a blockage caused by wipes, sanitary products, toys, excessive buildup, or an object lodged farther down the drain.
If the water level remains high after trying the method, don't repeatedly flush the toilet. That can quickly turn a clogged toilet into an overflowing one. A toilet plunger or toilet auger may be the next step, and persistent or recurring clogs may require a plumber.
Still, for the everyday "someone got a little ambitious with the toilet paper" clog, a cup of baking soda, some vinegar, and hot water may be worth trying before calling in reinforcements.
