Nobody really wants to talk about clogged toilets, but let’s face it—it’s something nearly everyone has to deal with at some point. Whether it’s because of too much toilet paper, a stubborn blockage, or just an unfortunate plumbing issue, finding your toilet backed up is never a fun experience. The usual response is to reach for a plunger and hope for the best, but what if you don’t have one nearby? Or maybe you’re not too keen on using one in the first place.
Luckily, there’s a surprisingly simple and effective hack that lets you unclog a toilet without a plunger, and all it takes is something you probably already have in your kitchen: liquid dish soap and hot water. That’s right—no messy tools or expensive plumbers necessary, just a little patience and some basic supplies. Before we jump into the step-by-step, it’s helpful to know that not all plungers are created equal. There’s a big difference between a sink plunger and a toilet plunger, and if you ever decide to buy one, make sure it’s the kind made for toilets.
Toilet plungers have a flange or a narrow bottom section that fits into the toilet drain, making them more effective than flat-bottomed sink plungers. But even knowing that, sometimes you just want to avoid the plunger entirely, which is where this trick really comes in handy. To get started, grab your bottle of liquid dish soap—any brand will do, but a grease-fighting soap like Dawn works particularly well. Pour about half a cup of it directly into the toilet bowl.
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