How to Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger

By
Aaron Stickley
Aaron Stickley

Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron's articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 04/15/24
Reviewed by
Richard Epstein
Richard Epstein
Reviewed by Richard Epstein
Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. He specializes in estimating as well as design and engineering for plumbing systems, and he works for one of New York's largest union plumbing construction companies.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Fact checked by
Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel
Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
In This Article
Project Overview
  • Total Time: 5 - 10 mins
  • Yield: Unclog toilet that won't flush
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5 to $15

A clogged toilet might be alarming, but it's usually easy to fix by plunging it. Unclogging a toilet with a plunger fixes most problems, but only if you do it the right way and with the right tool: a toilet plunger.

How to Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger

The Spruce / Ellen Lindner

Before You Begin

The proper type of plunger for unclogging a toilet is a toilet plunger, also called a flange plunger. A toilet plunger's cup is taller than the cup on a bell-shaped sink plunger. In addition, a toilet plunger has a sleeve-like extension, or flange, on the bottom of the cup.

The flange fits into the hole in your toilet bowl for a good seal. The flange can also fold into the cup so the plunger can be used on sinks and tubs.

How to Clean the Rim Jets on a Toilet Bowl

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Toilet plunger
  • Rubber gloves

Instructions

Black plunger with white handle standing on tiled floor

Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

  1. Fill the Toilet Bowl (as Needed)

    Make sure there is standing water in the toilet bowl. Submerging and filling the entire head of the plunger is best, so add water to the bowl if necessary. Use a water glass, bottle, or any container to add fresh water to the toilet bowl.

    Toilet bowl being filled with water from cup held in hand

    Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

  2. Position the Plunger

    Raise the toilet seat. Wearing rubber gloves, lower the toilet plunger into the bowl at an angle so the cup fills with as much water as possible. Fit the cup over the toilet's drain hole so the flange is inside the hole and the cup forms a complete seal around the outside. 

    Tip

    Avoid lowering the cup straight down as this traps air, which reduces the plunging force. Water has more compressive force than air.

    Black plunger positioned over toilet bowl with water for declogging

    Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

  3. Push and Pull the Plunger

    Grip the plunger handle in both hands. Push down on the cup forcefully, then pull back up without breaking the cup's seal around the hole. Repeat the push-pull motion five or six times. Remove the cup.

    Repeat the plunging motions until the bowl empties by itself. Set the plunger aside. 

    Black plunger being pumped to declog the toilet

    Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

  4. Flush the Toilet

    Flush the toilet. If the toilet flushes normally and the bowl empties out, the job is done.

    Person flushing a toilet

    Estanis Banuelos / Getty Images

  5. Sanitize the Toilet Plunger

    After use, the toilet plunger should be cleaned before storing it away. Add about 1/4 cup of household bleach to the toilet bowl. Gently swirl the toilet plunger in the bowl, making sure to fill the inside of the plunger. Flush the toilet. Let the plunger dry before storing it.

    A person holding the OXO Good Grips Toilet Plunger which has a holder near a toilet

    The Spruce / Eric Brockob

    Toilet Plunger Alternatives

    If you don't have a toilet plunger or if the toilet plunger isn't working, you have two alternatives:

    • Cup plunger: A bell-shaped cup plunger, normally used for sinks, can be used to unclog toilets if a toilet plunger isn't available. A cup plunger is much less effective for clearing toilet clogs, but it can sometimes work.
    • Toilet auger: If plunging doesn't work, try clearing it with a toilet auger. A toilet auger, or closet auger, has a telescoping metal tube with a crank handle on one end and a cable running inside. Insert the cable end (which has a corkscrew tip) into the toilet, and then turn the handle while pushing the cable down through the toilet trap to clear the clog.

    When to Call a Professional

    Unclogging a toilet is one of the most common tasks performed by plumbers. It's worth it to find a plumber to unclog the toilet when a toilet plunger or a toilet auger isn't working or if the toilet appears to be on the verge of overflowing.

    FAQ
    • Does a clogged toilet need to sit before plunging?

      A clogged toilet does not need to sit before plunging. You should plunge a clogged toilet as soon as possible to avoid overflow and to restore the toilet to workable condition again.

    • Can you leave a clogged toilet overnight?

      You can generally leave a clogged toilet overnight. But it's best to unclog the toilet as soon as possible. Clogs may eventually harden, becoming even more difficult to remove. Waste floating in the toilet bowl is laden with bacteria and needs to be send down the sanitary sewer, and not left out in the open. A clogged toilet, too, is an unusable toilet. So, the sooner you can unclog it, the sooner it will be operable again.