Sometimes, toilets get clogged because we tried to flush something that shouldn’t be flushed or accidentally dropped something in the bowl.
But there are also times when a toilet can get clogged by toilet paper. Of course, toilet paper is designed to break up easily and dissolve when it gets in the water. Unless you use too much of it, it can create a big gummy mess that simply refuses to go down the drain and clog your toilet.
Here is a guide on how to dissolve toilet paper clogs:
Prevent your toilet from overflowing
Is the toilet paper clogged so badly that your toilet is overflowing? If you haven’t done it already, hurry and turn off the shut-off valve at the back of your toilet, below the toilet tank.
If you don’t turn off the water supply, your toilet will keep overflowing while you are trying to dissolve the toilet paper clog, which would result in a big mess on the floor.
Clear the area around the toilet
Even with the water supply turned off, water and wet toilet paper residues will probably splash outside the toilet bowl when you work to dissolve that clog. This is why you should clear the area around your toilet before starting.
Remove the toilet paper holder, the trash can, and anything else on the floor and around the toilet. Next, you can place a few rags around the toilet base to catch some of the water that will splash out.
Use a plunger to try to dislodge the clog
One of the easiest things to unclog a toilet is to use a plunger. Open up the toilet seat, then insert your plunger in the bowl to cover the hole at the bottom. Be sure to create a good seal, then firmly press the plunger’s handle up and down many times.
The suction will pull and push on the toilet paper clog, which should break it off and allow it to dissolve and finally go down the drain. You might need to plunge your toilet a few times before getting rid of the clog.
Wear good gloves and use your hand
If there is so much toilet paper stuck inside your toilet drain that you can see it, you should be able to dissolve the clog with your hand. Not with your bare hand, though.
Put on a sturdy latex glove, long enough to go up to your elbow, and stick it down the toilet. Pull-on the toilet paper you can see, remove as many chunks of it as possible, and then throw them in a garbage bag.
This might be enough to dissolve the part of the gummy clog you can’t see. However, if the toilet is still clogged, you can try plunging it or moving to the next point on this list.
Poke holes through the clog with a plumber’s snake
A plumber’s snake, or an auger, is useful tool plumbers use to break up clogs hiding deep down toilet drains. Homeowners can also buy an auger, so if you have one, use it.
If you don’t have a plumber’s snake, you might be able to poke holes through the toilet paper clog with an untangled wire coat hanger instead.
Simply insert the auger or the wire down the drain until it reaches the clog. Then, try to poke holes through it, to help it dissolve in water. If the clog has been there for some time, it might be starting to solidify, which is not a good thing.
When you feel like you have been able to break up the clog, slowly pour some water down the drain to see if it can move down freely.
Pour dish soap and warm water down the toilet
If these methods don’t work, you might be able to dissolve the toilet paper clog with some dish soap. Simply pour down ¼ cup of dish soap down the drain, then wait for at least 10 minutes.
Next, pour down some warm water into your toilet bowl. Be sure the water is warm, but not hot. Wait for another 10 minutes, then flush the toilet to see if the clog has been dissolved.
Call a plumber if the toilet clog hasn’t dissolved
If you have tried everything and your toilet is still clogged, you will have to call a plumber Hamilton. Maybe toilet paper is not the only thing clogging your toilet, and a professional will be able to assess and solve the problem for you.