Q&A for How to Unclog a Toilet from a Flushed Toilet Paper Roll

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How do you unclog a toilet without a plunger?

James Schuelke
Professional Plumber
James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest.

James Schuelke

Professional Plumber

Expert Answer

If you don't have a plunger, one of the most effective ways is to use a toilet bowl brush. To utilize one of those for this purpose, take the brush and go up and down inside the toilet porthole where everything goes down. Use the water that's already in the toilet bowl and go back and forth with the brush like a plunger. 99% of the time, that will clear the toilet.

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Question

My toilet is plugged and when I flush it, it doesn't go down; it goes all the way to the top. What should I do?

Community Answer

Don't let it overflow. Flush it one time. Take the toilet tank lid off. Close the flapper, and replace the lid. Plunge the toilet.

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Question

Will the toilet enzyme drain cleaner product work to disintegrate the roll?

Adrian

Top Answerer

Yes, it will. Enzymes will help break down most organic material such as toilet paper.

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Question

I flushed some cut up watermelon down my toilet. I bought a closet auger but it still clogs up when you have a bowl movement. How long will it take for the melon to go completely through?

Community Answer

No idea on the watermelon transit time, but try using Palmolive green dish washing liquid. Squirt a fourth or half bottle in it and wait a few minutes. Start flushing slowly till it opens up. You can use to it with no plunger.

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Question

I flushed two pieces of paper towel and now my toilet flows all the way up and slowly goes down. I emptied it and I tried to plunge it, but it won't work.

Community Answer

You'll have to get a drain snake or auger in there to break up the paper towel or push the wad out of the toilet and into the much bigger drain pipe.

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I believe a washcloth was flushed down. I tried plunging and pouring buckets of water, now it's hardly letting any water down. Should I buy a snake?

Community Answer

Yep, you'll have to get a snake as option 1 and not necessarily the best option. Pushing the washcloth down into the system may just get it clogged in a place that's not accessible. Your best option is to remove the toilet and see if it's still in the toilet for retrieval or just right in the drain pipe at the floor. This will also give you the best opportunity to pull the washcloth out with a snake, if you're lucky enough to puncture or hook it.

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Question

What do I do if water in my toilet is taking a long time to go down because I used too much toilet paper?

Patricia Hoover Pearson

Community Answer

I found the suggestions above helpful. I poured about 1/2 cup dishwashing detergent into the toilet, waited 10 minutes, flushed and plunged, and it cleared the clogged paper!

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Question

How do I unclog a toilet if there's been tampons flushed?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Try using a plunger to dislodge the tampons so they can pass through the pipes or be removed.

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Question

What should I do if I accidentally threw a cardboard toilet paper tube down the toilet and then flushed it?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

If you can't reach it to pull it out, try using the hook on a wire hanger to snag the roll and then pull it out of the drain opening.

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