It’s a March Madness nightmare — you’re at your buddy’s house watching your favorite team’s game when you clog the toilet. Even worse, there’s no plunger. Panicking won’t help anything, however. Take a quick look for some household items that might save your bacon.
Grab some dish soap, hot water and a bucket — then let chemistry take it from there. Yes, the plunger-free approach is really that easy! Here’s how to make it happen.
For more household tips, here’s how to kill mold in your washing machine, and 12 easy ways to make your mattress last longer.
Everything you need to unclog the toilet is likely already in the bathroom
Most clogged toilets can be unstopped with soap, hot water and time.
Again, you’ll need just three supplies that can be found in almost any bathroom: soap, hot water and a vessel for transferring water to the toilet bowl. Dish soap, hot bathwater and a 5-gallon bucket work best, but if secrecy is paramount and leaving the lavatory would blow your cover, a few pumps from a hand soap dispenser and some hot sink water in a small plastic waste bin will do just fine.
First, get the water in the sink or tub running hot — like, as hot as it will get. Don’t outdo yourself — no need to boil any water. At those temperatures, you could crack the porcelain or worse, injure yourself. Just let the tap water get as hot as it can and you’ll be within range.
While you’re waiting for hot water, go ahead and clear everything off the floor — scales, bathmats… pets. You’re going to be very careful to avoid any spills, of course, but better to be safe than soggy.
