Before I have a mental breakdown, how can I unclog my toilet?

[Fressia123]

Toilet is completely unsuable, we're isolating, no volunteers to help today and I'm having my period, so need the toilet regularly :(

Oh sorry.
Just saw you're isolating.
Thats tricky.

Potty or bucket?

I don't know my neighbours. (one is an old lady) but the other ones are completely new I think but would have no idea of where their toilets are!

Gosh that's tricky.
I think you need emergency Dyno rod.

If its really cold and your toilet drips slightly then the outside soil pipe can ice up.

My ds had a blockage and dgs had put a flannel in the loo!

Happened to our loo last week. It had been slow to empty after flushing a few times, then one day it didn't empty at all. It was because of DD using tons of toilet paper and not flushing after night-time wees.

DH, in his wisdom, said "just flush it again - the weight of the extra water will clear it".

So anyway, the water was now right up to the brim and not dropping at all. So I got an old jug and emptied as much as I could into a bucket. Then with rubber gloves on, I pulled out handfuls of soggy toilet paper and binned all that in a black bag. Then put a bin liner (NOT a carrier bag because they have holes in) over my cloth mop and did the plunger thing. Only had to squish it once or twice, there was a great big gurgle and it all shifted. Flushed a few times - all clear.

Good luck.

I unblocked the khazi at work with a metal coat hanger. Made it into one long pointy thing that when round the bend. But then we had a problem at home and that involve lifting manhole covers and mens directing jets of water to clear a huge build-up of shit. But then our house is 180 years old and so are the sewers. If you can't unblock it, call a plumber. They come all kitted out to cope with Covid.

If it is toilet paper you need a talk to family about how much they use. A good tip is to do two wipes, flush, then more wipes if still needed.
We have a septic tank so only use 2 ply toilet paper.

liquid soap and hot water poured from a height

Use a net curtain wire or something similar to get right in the u bend and wriggle it

Can you get to B&Q or ask a friend to go there for you? They sell something that's a bit like a thick fishing line that you wind down into the toilet - it works immediately. A plumber told me about it after coming to my house every week for a month. That's all he uses.

You can see them here.

We don't have a local B&Q and no friends nor family. So it's literally with whatever I have at home

Good idea about the net curtain rail!

I usually find hot water helps clear a blockage, although you would have to scoop some water out first. My upstairs loo has a tendency to block and is luckily right next to the bath. So I use the shower head to get a load of hot water in the loo. It’s not a power shower but I put it on the strongest setting. It works within minutes

I think you need to start with an idea of where the block is. Go outside to find and lift the manhole to see what is happening there & unblock there if needed

You'll be able to get the drain clearing kit from Screwfix, a plumber's merchant or a decent DIY shop. Do you have any of these near you?

If not, can you get Dynorod or similar in? If you open all the windows, talk to them from a distance and everyone else stays out of the way, the risk is pretty much non existent.

Hot water, not boiling or you can crack the pipes.

Biological washing powder or liquid breaks down the poo. Put a couple of scoops in, close the lid and leave for an hour. Unfold a wire coat hanger and poke it down to break up the blockage then flush.

Have you tried the mop method- really does work!

Toilet brush vigorously up and down always works for me

Get a rubber glove on and get your hand in there. Gross but it has to be done, reach right into the u bend and feel if anything is stuck. If not then it’s further along so use your hand in a plunging motion.

Usually works!

Yeah I agree you need a toilet snake or other ( curtain rail is genious). I tend to find if dc block loo with a poo that pouring water down whilst flushing helps. If it’s stubborn, pour some toilet duck/ a little fairy liquid and leave it to break it down, this can help. Someone’s shoved something down there I think to block it like that? These have worked for me. But I think everyone should get a toilet snake when time/ circs allow. If it’s really bad, maybe you will have to empty it with a bucket and dispose of elsewhere to get water level down. Then rubber gloves, hand in a bag and get in there and grab whatever’s down there. Very unpleasant job but always seems to fall to mum to fix

Seriously, try toilet brush as plunger first. Least disruptive and always works for me

Use bleach bottle and give it a good ramming - push/pull force (like a plunger).
If the water is up to the rim then empty some out with jug.

Do people still use toilet brush? I’ve never had one. That might do the job op.