To use a potty (kitchen bowl)

[nadadise]

Our toilet has broken, can't afford to fix it.

Is it really awful to use a kitchen washing up bowl?

I hate doing it but I can't think of any alternatives. Any ideas?

Sorry, I see it's the pan that's the problem.
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But a jar of water over your phone torch, it will glow like a lamp.

Do you have no electricity?

*put

Don't stick your hand in there, if a plunger won't get it your hand certainly won't.

Get a toilet snake. They're that not expensive, and they go down the pipes a couple of feet and drag everything out. Some hardware stores will even rent them out for a cheap price.

I agree with getting your hand up the u bend, I have double bagged my arm a few times. Great idea of phone over jar of water.
OP, hope you have a clear toilet soon, good luck.

Tie a plastic bag to the loo brush. Tape it on. Then repeatedly plunge the toilet. The bag seems to help creating a seal to clear the blockage. It's grim but ive done it before and it works.

Glad you are getting some good advice by the sounds of it!

Whoever thought MNers could unblock a toilet in an emergency? :o

When my Loo blocked I called a plumber and he very kindly told me how to do it myself. here is what he said.
1 Do NOT use caustic soda, it can sometimes set like concrete.
2 If loo water is high bail out until normal height.
3 Fill a jug with hot (not boiling) water and a good couple of squirts of washing up liquid. Pour into the loo.
4 Hold the plunger ready down the loo.
5 Flush and plunge like crazy at the same time. You may need to do this more than once.
My old loo used to block a lot and this worked every time.

'If this is true'

WHY would I lie?

I have electricity but no bathroom light.

I did have money put aside but I had a few things happen ... Anyway :)

This is one of those things that horrifies people but it wasn't that many years ago that most people didn't have toilets in their homes, I am sure you will manage fine for a month. You just need to plan to do no. 2s somewhere else or worst case do it on newspaper/bag it up etc, then just use a bucket for wees and empty down your drain. Henry 8th did his poos in a wooden box in his bedroom that one of his most senior officials emptied every day and he was the king of England! Loads of present day people deal with this, people doing remote camping, refugees, people doing DIY on their home with no bathroom... it will be fine just a bit inconvenient and it's just a short term thing.

Definitely try loo brush first! If you 'plunge' hard with the brush eventually all the water goes away and it forces the blockage down. Good luck!

Can you can an emergency loan through council? Our village has a hardship fund where local people can access small sums to help in these situations. Have you looked into that kind of thing?

Surely by the time you get the invoice from a plummer it will bethe end of the month?

Hope you get your loo cleared. We had this when DS put wipes down the toilet. He won't do that again after he had to help clear it with a plunger and caustic soda.
As for your lighting problem - pound stores have stick on, battery operated led lights which we use in a cupboard and are pretty bright.

IME jason they mostly want payment there and then understandably.

I'm not on benefits and never have been so no loan!

So, after all the advice, what's your next move nanadise?

If it's possible that it is actually your outside drain that is blocked then the water board should come out for free - I only discovered this recently having previously paid for the Drain Doctor.

I cant ad to the toilet issue but to deal with the short term this culd help for number two's....

Bucket, lined wth a bin bag, put cat liter in the bottom, tha will absorb better and elp with smell. Don't overfill so the bag splits when you pick it up!. Or I suppose puting a nappy in the bottom of the bin bag if you happen to have one.

I think I've already said so Vulcan

I've said that I will be trying the baking soda.

If the baking soda does not work then I'll have to wait until the end of the month. People are always very well meaning with advice but some of it is advice I'm not in a position to take.

It's unlikely it's a blocked drain as its a flat so everyone in the building would be affected.

Well even if the op is unable to use the advice given I have certainly learnt a lot about emergency plumbing and i am sure someone out there has been helped!

OP my gut feeling is your post is a cry for help rather than permission to wee in a potty. Have a look at www.turn2us.org.uk use the calculator to ensure you are getting everything you are entitled to. Speak to Stepchange re any debts. There are lots of threads on here with lots of money saving tips.
Your loo sounds blocked so follow some of the advice on here and have a look on line.

It's not actually baking soda you want OP. It's caustic soda.

I don't know if you're actually confusing thr things, or just the names, but the 2 are used for very different things!

It sounds like a blockage of just your toilet to me. Before the soda bail out the water and wrap your arm in a strong bin bag. Tak a wire coat hanger and squash it so one end is slightly hooked.Kneel on floor by the loo and put your arm as far round the bend as you can holding the hanger then wiggle and push hard.

It's not a cry for help really - I'm not entitled to any benefits (just CB) but thanks.

I work full time and now I have a permanent contract and regular hours. So we are ok or will be - it's just a few things needed sorting.

I genuinely wondered if there was a better alternative than the kitchen bowl and kitchen towels. I do try to use a public loo where possible but I can't always train my bowels unfortunately!

Yeah I meant caustic soda