How to Unclog a Toilet with Baking Soda

Try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Start by pouring 1 cup (240 mL) of baking soda into the clogged toilet, then add 1 gallon (3.8 L) of boiling water. The heat and pressure of the water can help unclog the toilet faster. If you hear a suction sound and see the water draining out, then gravity and the hot water were enough to unclog the toilet. Give it a flush to see if it works as it should. If it doesn't, pour 2 cups (470 mL) of white vinegar into the toilet very carefully, and pay close attention to the reaction between the vinegar and baking soda so that it doesn’t fizz over the toilet bowl. Stop pouring and wait for the fizzing to subside if it gets too high, then continue pouring until all the vinegar is in the toilet bowl. Let the mixture sit for eat least 2 hours and try flushing it. If it looks like it is still clogged, let the mixture sit overnight before you flush it.

Because most of the things that clog a toilet are water-soluble, eventually your toilet should unclog itself. However, it could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, so you may want to speed up the process. A simple way to do that is to pour 1 cup (240 mL) of baking soda, 1 gallon (3.8 L) of boiling water, and 2 cups (470 mL) of white vinegar into the toilet. Let the mixture sit for at least 2 hours or as long as overnight. Then, take a plunger, place it over the hole in the toilet bowl, and give it a few good plunges. When you hear a suction noise and see the water level lowering, then flush the toilet. That should clear the clog and allow you to use your toilet.

You can use bleach to unclog a toilet, but there are much more effective (and less noxious) ways to unclog a toilet. For instance, you can pour 1 cup (240 mL) of baking soda, 1 gallon (3.8 L) of boiling water, and 2 cups (470 mL) of white vinegar into the toilet. Make sure you pour the vinegar very carefully, and pay close attention to the reaction between the vinegar and baking soda so that it doesn’t fizz over the toilet bowl. Let it sit for at least 2 hours and give it a flush to see if the clog clears. If you only have bleach, pour 2 cups (470 mL) of it into the toilet and wait 10 minutes. That'll give the bleach time to work on the clog. You may want to clear the room or open up some windows to increase the circulation. You can then try flushing the toilet to see if it clears the clog. If it doesn't, place a plunger over the hole in the toilet bowl and give it a few good plunges. When you hear a suction noise and see the water level lowering, then flush the toilet.