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?

Yy to the washing up liquid trick. That does work. If not, cover your arm with two or three bin bags, put your hand down and move the blockage - I've done this a few times. It's gross, but effective.

Wow, this is turning into the thread that has it all. All it needs now is the OP to ask if its OK for her to park in a parent and child space when she nips in to the pound shop straight from work for the caustic soda.....

You do need light to unblock it. But this isn't going to cost anything if you have the appropriate spanner or wrench. Borrow from neighbour.

Step 1. Empty out as much water as possible.

Step 2. Bin bag over arm and get as much of everything else out as you can reach.

Step 3. Remove toilet seat.

Step 4. On the bottom of the pedestal there are two bolts attaching toilet to floor. Undo them. You now have a totally unattached piece of kit.

Step 5. Turn it upside down. Outside if possible. Otherwise over bath or shower. Remove the blockage. Clean thoroughly round u bend.

Step 6. Repeat other steps in reverse order. The only difficult bit is likely to be getting the bolts on the pedestal undone.

If you don't have any luck with the unblocking, google Decent Homes Loans and the name of your local authority. They're loans available from LA's to anyone, whether in HA/private rent/own home and they're for basic things like this, toilets, heating etc. Your LA will have it's own eligibility criteria but it's worth looking into. They're usually offered at quite generous repayment terms.

OP - I wouldn't feel bad about asking for an advance on your salary. We do it in our work place - well actually we normally suggest the employee takes a short interest free loan from us to sort out any temporary cashflow problems.

Hope the wire coat hanger works - have some bags ready to place compacted loo roll in - have had to do this many times myself in the past due to dc's over use of said loo roll.

This thread is turning snippy again and there's no need. I have already tried to unblock the toilet but don't feel confident with anything complex (for me 'complex' means 'using a screwdriver') - I am the worlds least squeamish person and I don't think I have said or implied I mind getting my hands dirty.

I also have said I'll try the soda many times and said thank you for this.

There is absolutely no need to take the toilet apart!

Plunging is generally the best solution to a blocked toilet.
Remove some of the water and plunge with a mop. It's more effective if you put the mop inside a carrier bag.

Hope you get it sorted.

gross video but like this

About 3 days:

Oddly A MOP in a plastic bag! Whoever would have guessed!
I'm going to file that away in the back of my mind under "Let's hope it never happens". You deserve a IMO.

Yes to human waste not going in general household waste! Most councils will have special bin and collection, eg for nappies, incntinence pads, etc

Speaking as some one who regularly has a bin full of shit by the end of the day (top floor flat, 2 in nappies) DON'T DO THIS!

Oddly has the answer I think. Worked for our toilet which had been completely blocked for ten days, we couldn't afford a plumber either.

Munchkin - use a flushable paper liner in the nappy and flush the poo away to the sewer where it belongs!

paper liners

Nadadise can you get yourself signed up to Streetlife? It is an online community. You could sign up under a pseudonym and ask if any local plumber or handyman can help free of charge. People are very kind when there is a real need.

Thanks but there isn't a real need - i wouldn't dream of taking advantage. I can pay and will pay. Just not yet :)

I suspect you'll be able to sort it with the tips you have from here. I have ocd and as a result tend to want to avoid the plumber in the house if possible. What I do sometimes use is a fb page where locals barter services a sort of pay it forward idea. You'd also be surprised how many people are willing to help and be paid later if contacted via community programmes like ones mentioned by pp.

Hope you get it sorted OP

minty
Don't worry I scrape but there are still wipes etc

I've had two different firms doing plumbing for me in recent years and they both invoiced me. I would think expecting cash at the time is a bit dodgy tbh.

Agree to bail out the excess water and the hot water with fairy liquid (break down fat in the poop if poops the blockage) + plunging. Good luck OP