But before you break out the plunger or call in a plumber, you might have a fast, simple solution right in your pantry. Vinegar and baking soda are more than just baking ingredients; they're popular natural cleaning agents and can even work in sync to dislodge that clog.
Pour one cup of baking soda into the bowl. Slowly pour one cup of vinegar into the bowl. If you pour too quickly, the reaction could make a mess on your bathroom floor. Use your instincts; if it looks like one cup is going to cause too much fizz, use less or pour more slowly.
Make your own drain cleaner by pouring one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar into the toilet and adding a half gallon of hot water. Dish soap can also help loosen some obstructions. When using either method, allow the solution to sit overnight and then flush the toilet to see if the obstruction has cleared.
It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain. Always flush this mixture down with boiling water—no matter how long you leave it sitting in the drain.
Caustic Soda
Caustic soda is a nasty chemical that can burn, but it's very effective for unclogging toilets. To use this chemical, you need to get some rubber gloves and eye protection. You can pick up the chemical from the local hardware or grocery stores.
If you can't unclog the toilet using a plunger or a snake, your next best option is to use boiling water. Boiling water can help to dissolve the clog and free up the pipes. To use this method, bring a pot of water to a boil and pour it into the toilet. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then flush the toilet.
By allowing it to sit around for hours, you're giving the opportunity for the bacteria to multiply. This can be a health hazard, especially if the toilet overflows after the water in it has been sitting around.
If the clog still seems to be intact, start over at step 1 and repeat the process a couple of times. For extra-stubborn clogs, you can let the fizz mixture sit overnight or combine this method with plunging.
In some cases, it takes more than one dose of bicarb and vinegar to unclog a toilet. So if your first attempt isn't successful, go back to step one and start over. If a repeat treatment is necessary, leave the mixture for 30 minutes so it can really attack that stubborn clog before you add the hot water.
Put one gallon of hot water on the stove to heat up. While the water is heating up, squirt some dish soap into the toilet. When the water is very hot, but not boiling, carefully pour it into the toilet. Wait several minutes while the hot water and dish soap soften the clog.
Is it okay to leave a clogged toilet overnight? In most cases, you can leave a clogged toilet overnight. However, calling an emergency plumber near you might be warranted if water starts leaking from the pipes. A simple clog likely won't cause this, but an inexperienced homeowner messing with the plumbing could.
A clog in the toilet, toilet flange, or drain
If you have a clog anywhere in the system, this will prevent water from fully flushing down the toilet. Depending on where the clog is and how severe it is, you'll either be able to remove it on your own or you'll need help from a professional.
Surprise! Coke or Pepsi are great for vanquishing a clog! Everyone's heard about how a nail will dissolve in a glass of coke over time, and although most of us know this is a stretch, coke is arguably better than many commercial chemical clog removers because of its strong dissolving agents!
If the clog is severe, pour up to one-half a cup of baking soda in the toilet. Remember to use equal parts of vinegar and baking soda. So, for every one cup of baking soda you use, use one cup of vinegar. Pour the baking soda first, then pour an equal amount of vinegar.
What if The Baking Soda & Vinegar Hack Doesn't Work? If your drain doesn't unclog right away, repeat the baking soda & vinegar process another time or two. If you have a stubborn clog, sometimes the baking soda & vinegar trick just doesn't work. You may have to use a sink plunger to help push through the blockage.
Do You Have to Rinse after Cleaning with Vinegar? Rinsing is not necessary! If you're simply using a vinegar and water solution to wipe and disinfect, you won't need to rinse. However, if there's also plenty of dirt and grime you're wiping away, you may also want to rinse with some extra water.
"The biggest don't when it comes to toilet tanks is bleach—do not use bleach or products containing bleach inside the tank, as it can corrode the internal parts of your toilet. If you are aiming to remove tough stains from the tank, I also recommend white vinegar diluted with water."
Vinegar is both safe and beneficial to pour down your drain.
Some of the most effective household cleaners aren't meant to be mixed. You probably already know never to combine harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia (or really, bleach and anything). But common pantry essentials that are often used for cleaning — like baking soda and vinegar — shouldn't be mixed either.
When you are using a baking soda and vinegar solution to clean out your drain, you are actually causing the rubber and plastic that are used for the drain's pipes to be eaten away by the mixture. Over time, this rubber and plastic will break down, causing the drain to become even more blocked.