Merry f*****g Christmas- the blocked toilet edition.

[christmasfluffysocks]

DS who's 12 and is autistic/learning disabilities/adhd has blocked the toilet. By shoving whole rolls cardboard and all down the toilet. At least 2 have gone down, likely more. FWIW he functions at a 5-6 year old level, is very, very excited about Christmas and wants Santa to come NOW (yeah, he still believes!). He didnt do this deliberately in a 'I'm going to block the toilet because it's funny' way, it would have been more likely that he just got thoroughly overexcited. The toilet rolls have now been removed and I've put a few sheets, pre ripped out for his usage.

Thankfully there are another 2 toilets in the house and the toilet he has blocked up is on the rear drain system so at least the other 2 will work. But does anyone have any ideas how I can unblock it. I've tried the coathanger, wrapping my arm in a binbag (FML) pouring buckets of water from on high, red hot water, wrapping the mop in a binbag and using as a plunger. I'm reluctant to use chemicals because I dont want a cauldron of stuff hanging around for ds to discover either. Pouring a stiff drink and not caring wont work either. I cant drink because it exacerbates a neuro condition.

FFS

A good old plunger is still the best method but guessing you don't have one?

Shame about the drink, you deserve it. Lots of empathy. Knowing he didn't mean it if anything makes it more frustrating to sort sometimes.

I can't help I'm afraid, I think you are v much the expert here on how to unblock a loo.

Do you have a way of securing the door shut so you can use the chemicals? Screw hardware into the frame and door if you have to and make it good later. Time will probably help a bit with loo roll.

Ask a neighbour if they've got any rods? A hose down the toilet might help if no plunger but it might need to be tackled from both sides

@Perfect28- the OP only said age 5-6yo to give an indication of their child’s approximate current level.

A plea has gone out on the local WhatsApp group with promises of lots of Christmas festivities if anyone can come to my aid. I'm also eyeing up the garden hose as a makeshift unblocking snake.

@Perfect28 he has a learning disability. While his functional age might be between 5-6 this is mainly an academic thing (which I included for context btw). He's impulsive and does random stuff at the best of times. To all intents and purposes on a day like this he might as well be an overgrown toddler.

@Perfect28 but that’s completely irrelevant because it is blocked and they need help on how to unblock it.

You clearly have no idea how learning disabilities work. No need for this.

I used to work with an autistic man who liked flushing numerous hand towels down the toilet.

It might be the rhythmic flushing and flowing that’s appealing.

My colleague used to do this thing where she taped a bin bag to the toilet and it would magically unblock. Look it up on YouTube; it never failed us!

Stick a rod down there or a plunger? Maybe pray alongside for good measure.

Oh dear

I made a DIY plunger and unblocked the uni house toilet for one of mine. Bin bag tied into to mop, bin bag left baggy but tied I tight then pkunged like mad.

If you have any (or can get hold of some from someone you know) then caustic soda poured down and left for a few hours will help dissolve it down. Agree with a PP about sealing the door to keep DS safe from messing with it while it works.

If you have a large coke or lemonade bottle, you can cut the bottom end off to make a makeshift plunger. I have done this a few times and it works really well.

If the pipework can be accessed, it might be jammed just beyond the toilet itself, where it narrows from ceramic to pipe. Will be wet and messy, but not awful (assuming no human waste went in after the rolls).

If it's not visible there, then try the coathangers again there (or rods). Be sensitive to any movement or give, slowly slowly catchy monkey.

I am certain it will be not far from the toilet, as the communal sewer pipe is MUCH wider than ones leading from individual houses.

Loads of fairy liquid and vast quantities of freshly poured kettles poured from a height should work will need lots of flushes and please don't burn yourself !

I'd try and borrow a plunger. Hopefully the cardboard will get softer the longer it's in the water for then just keep plunging away at it.

I have also seen that you can create a vacuum flush by covering the top of the toilet pan tightly in clingfilm so it's fully sealed without any air holes. Put the seat down and flush a couple of times. The airlock creates a whoosh effect.

Good luck. At least you have other toilet options and can get a plunger off Amazon quite quickly after Christmas if you need to.

Im.56 and did this at my friend's house. I had to.remove 'everything ' from the toilet, unblock then reintroduce every. Was unpleasant

Lots of washing up liquid, leave for 10 minutes & plunge.

fill up lots of buckets of water and keep pouring one after the other

YOU ARE A LEGEND. YOUVE SAVED MY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

Sorry about the caps but this needs shouting about. Thanks to your heads up and YouTube the toilet has now been restored to its perfectly working order. I'm not sure if its wizardry, magic or some kind of scientific miracle. Binbags and gaffa tape for the win. Now I wont have to traipse downstairs in the middle of the night to use the loo.

DH has taken DS out for a Christmas walk to see the neighbours houses all lit up, turkey dinosaurs and smiles have gone in the oven for him, DD has got him a new Christmas story for bedtime tonight and once His Lordship is in bed takeaway will be ordered and consumed.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope yours is a very festive one and Santa brings you everything you asked for.

🎅 🎄 🎅 🎄

^ this

had to unblock a relatives loo - just physically removed the paper… plunge/remove/plunge

If it’s just paper (no one has actually used the loo), it’s annoying but not too vile

i baled out the water so I could see what I was dealing with

I bought this a few months ago from Amazon.

It's great for toilet paper blockages so might be ok on cardboard once it's broken down enough (which One Shot drain cleaner would help with).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Luigis-Worlds-Best-Toilet-Plunger/dp/B07DY5R3CR/ref=sr_1_7?crid=O4HY1XXJOS3R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AOFmnVNylegQSjTdJKoxAny9hLV122A8CvThR4UxJTbwxnUqnB1lZ2fTEyl40-NNC-Nemqqqii5Q2QjIR-nJPIvez5XHH7lKyFkUtBRbE9ca6hRsrlv7FaPADoTe3fa_IRjeJagtpBmvrbHW-jdOK0QEEm5rQdB3HA4wDduhgWSV8xf-LgO8p1a_3wtR6S-kG3XlLNN5Qj5h5zxAQF1Nd5-EZxAdZdLQf-yBAUO0DRsxc-IqJtN_Y2O1eIx-o5AI3H6WIW-HkCMOWwdFTD5I7xOAb-mLiW87sJmWTxZEJkA.dACNNhBXdXYRUDGwn9PFcQzKAmG1on8i7FAVgXmi-6g&dib_tag=se&keywords=luigi%27s%2Btoilet%2Bplunger&qid=1766596165&sprefix=luigi%27s%2Btoil%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-7&th=1

Ahh X posted.

Glad it's sorted OP!

Still might be worth buying one to keep on top of any smaller blockages.

I don’t have a blocked toilet but will be 100% looking up this bin bag wizardry!!

so glad it’s sorted