Help me unblock my toilet

[TheMagneticFox]

It keeps blocking, I’ve tried everything. I am in a Housing Association property and I’ve had them out twice in the last 4 weeks to fix it but it still blocks up. I only put paper and bodily fluids down it, except bleech I use for cleaning and the plumber the 2nd time he came advised twice a week to use bicarb and white vinegar twice a week which I’ve been doing.

It’s just me and my 6 year old, she does not put anything in the toilet apart from paper but probably uses a bit too much as she has a fine motor delay so struggles to rip it off at the right point, I have been supervising her as much as I can but being the only adult in the house it’s hard to supervise her every time to check shes only using a bit. She often also seems to need the toilet immediately before or after me (anxiety I think as she has separation anxiety) which I don’t think is helping.

The flush works but again DD can’t always use it due to her delay and I may not be able to get to the bathroom straight away to help her flush as I’m busy (I wfh and I also cook every meal).

I do not want to call the HA again to fix it as I’m worried they’ll charge me this time. They tried to blame me the first time it happened so I don’t want to risk it.

I’ve plunged, put bleech in, and tried to forcefully flush with hot water. Is there anything else I can try? The water level is slowly going down so I don’t think it’s a complete blockage like the last two times when I called the HA out.

I know it’s late at night but can manage tonight and tomorrow at least.

Please move if in the wrong section.

This never fails

I've always managed to unblock mine with a huge squirt of washing up liquid and then a kettle full of hot water, sometimes it's needed more than one go but always works in the end.

Thank you both I'll try the washing up liquid first then the plastic bottle!

Hot water might help.

Could it be that there's a problem with the neighbour's toilet that affects yours as well?

I've got zero expertise on plumber work but if you've tried everything this might be an explanation.

@LaBellina

Hot water might help.

Could it be that there's a problem with the neighbour's toilet that affects yours as well?

I've got zero expertise on plumber work but if you've tried everything this might be an explanation.

I live in a block of flats, and the plumber checked the outside pipes but said he couldn't see a problem with them and no-one else in the block has reported a problem so it must be me/my DD doing something to block it up

Have you got any biological washing powder or stain remover powder? These have enzymes which can munch through organic matter. It’s worked for me when the toilet’s been blocked.

Leave it overnight then pour a bucket (I use mop bucket) of warm water quickly as possible and that seems to clear it. I suppose you can’t do the bucketful of water thing if the water level is up though.

@ArseholesOnToast

Have you got any biological washing powder or stain remover powder? These have enzymes which can munch through organic matter. It’s worked for me when the toilet’s been blocked.

Leave it overnight then pour a bucket (I use mop bucket) of warm water quickly as possible and that seems to clear it. I suppose you can’t do the bucketful of water thing if the water level is up though.

I have Vanish gold I'll try that if the other two tricks above don't work thank you

Perhaps not a helpful comment for now but do you use toilet blocks?

When I started living on my own my mum adviced me to never use them as they can get stuck easily in the pipe if you drop them accidently (which could have happened without anyone noticing).

Longer term I would recommend one of these.
We have issues with dc and rental plumbing.
This is quick and easy.

@LaBellina

Perhaps not a helpful comment for now but do you use toilet blocks?

When I started living on my own my mum adviced me to never use them as they can get stuck easily in the pipe if you drop them accidently (which could have happened without anyone noticing).

No i don't, my mum gave me the same advice.

@halloweenagain

Longer term I would recommend one of these. We have issues with dc and rental plumbing. This is quick and easy.

Sorry no picture, what was it?

I hope you can get it solved OP .
Good luck

It may seem a bit wasteful of water but it helps to flush twice, part way through using the toilet then at the end (sorry if TMI!). Seems to put less of a strain on the system.

Could you stop putting loo roll down it for a while and bin it?
Not ideal I know but at least will let you know if it's paper that is the problem.

@IHaveBrilloHair

Could you stop putting loo roll down it for a while and bin it? Not ideal I know but at least will let you know if it's paper that is the problem.

I will try this when I manage to unblock it as you're right it tells me if it's the paper thats the problem or something else. Thank you for your response.

@choirmumoftwo

It may seem a bit wasteful of water but it helps to flush twice, part way through using the toilet then at the end (sorry if TMI!). Seems to put less of a strain on the system.

I'm not on a water meter so I can try this thank you

Bin bag over the end of a mop should work. It’s a like a ginormous plunger.

This kept happening to me and I consistently had to call someone out to have it fixed it was so bad. The last time it happened they suggested the toilet paper I was using was too thick and told me to change the ply to see if it would help. Its been a little over a year and its been perfect

We had good luck with the washing up liquid trick when DS blocked ours and I had tried a lot of other things. I put so, SO much down it though - based on advice in old threads here, not just a good squirt but like a third of a bottle - and left it for an hour and then followed it up with a kettle of hot (not boiling in case you crack the toilet) water.

It was amazing, it just suddenly all swished away.

@peakygal

This kept happening to me and I consistently had to call someone out to have it fixed it was so bad. The last time it happened they suggested the toilet paper I was using was too thick and told me to change the ply to see if it would help. Its been a little over a year and its been perfect

I only use 3ply but could switch to even cheaper paper? I can see that being the problem with the amount my DD uses when left alone

Ours block if we use 3-ply (old Victorian drains). Strictly 2-ply in this house.

@LadyofMisrule

Ours block if we use 3-ply (old Victorian drains). Strictly 2-ply in this house.

Thank you I'll buy even cheaper toilet paper, my bank account will love me

It's such a coincidence to see this thread as I've literally just had a new toilet installed this afternoon.

I had the same problem as you OP for a long time. We tried everything to improve the flush and in the meantime, we had so many paper blockages.

I found the only way was to jug out every single bit of water (to the point where I'd use a plastic pot not much bigger than a thimble to remove all the water), then I'd boil the kettle and numerous saucepans of water. Tip the boiling water down, close the lid and repeat every 20 mins or so (plunge vigorously in between).

It was the only thing that shifted the blockage but we also needed to use a bin/carrier bag in the meantime for loo roll so as not to add to it.

In the end the only long term solution was a new toilet and 'out pipe' (not sure if that's the correct name). The plumber showed me the 'out pipe' (large bendy looking pipe attached to back of loo) and it was limescaled up so much, it took up about 3 inches either side.

@WorraLiberty

It's such a coincidence to see this thread as I've literally just had a new toilet installed this afternoon.

I had the same problem as you OP for a long time. We tried everything to improve the flush and in the meantime, we had so many paper blockages.

I found the only way was to jug out every single bit of water (to the point where I'd use a plastic pot not much bigger than a thimble to remove all the water), then I'd boil the kettle and numerous saucepans of water. Tip the boiling water down, close the lid and repeat every 20 mins or so (plunge vigorously in between).

It was the only thing that shifted the blockage but we also needed to use a bin/carrier bag in the meantime for loo roll so as not to add to it.

In the end the only long term solution was a new toilet and 'out pipe' (not sure if that's the correct name). The plumber showed me the 'out pipe' (large bendy looking pipe attached to back of loo) and it was limescaled up so much, it took up about 3 inches either side.

I suspect I need a new toilet, the thing about my HA is they only replace things when they have to. I suspect I'll be retired before they'll replace it.

Are you top floor?