Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

This is the coolest trick to unclog a toilet. It's so much cleaner than using a plunger. I can’t promise it will work every time for you, but it worked every time I tried it. All you need is dish soap and hot water.
I would never actually photograph a real clogged toilet because that would be gross. But I wanted to show you how well this method worked, so I stuffed my toilet full of paper towels and toilet paper. I thought those were some pretty tough conditions.
Step 1: Gather Supplies
I used dish soap and hot water. (I told you this was cleaner than using a plunger!)
Step 2: Squirt in Some Soap
I just squirted in about ¼ cup of dish soap.
You'll see the soap settle to the bottom. It lubricates the toilet bowl and helps break up the toilet paper.
Step 3: Add Very Warm Water
I didn’t add boiling water because I didn’t want to damage any of the seals or the toilet bowl itself, but hot water helps break up all the toilet paper. Add enough to help break everything up, but make sure not to overflow the toilet.
Step 4: Flush
You'll see the water slowly move down (it might take a few minutes, so be patient). Once that happens, feel free to flush it and watch the clog go down the drain. Easy peasy!
For more ideas on how to fix a gurgling toilet click here!
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Comments
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Lil165243328 on Jul 30, 2025
I tried using a plunger to no avail. I called a plumber, and he couldn't come out until next day. I was frantic. I remembered reading somewhere that I could use Dawn to unplug the toilet, so I gave it a try. It took half hour, but it worked. I was able to cancel plumber and save a lot of money. Thank for the tip,
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Celia forth on Sep 05, 2025
I have poured bleach down my toilet, let it sit for about 1/2 hour then flush. This has worked every time.
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Frequently asked questions
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I’m just wondering how safe this method would be for toilets with a leach bed? Or septic system?
I always thought you weren't suppose to put paper towels in the toliet for these plug toliets?
What's the best method for cleaning the soleplate of an iron?