How to unblock a toilet

There’s a never a good time for a toilet to get blocked but here's some simple steps to help you clear the problem.

Blocked toilet? Armed with rubber gloves and a plunger you’ll be ready to tackle it. A plunger can usually help you deal with the problem easily so make sure you have one in your home for emergencies and follow the instructions below:

Step one

Firstly, you need to avoid the toilet overflowing by closing the flapper - take the top off the toilet, reach into your cistern (don’t worry, this water’s clean!) and look for a round plug attached to a chain - this is the flapper.

Step two

Put down toilet paper, kitchen towel or some old towels to protect your bathroom from any mess (you might want to pop on a pair of rubber gloves to protect yourself from any germs too).

Step three

If you can see what’s causing the problem, then you might be able to just pull it out - just make sure you’ve got your rubber gloves on first.

Step four

If not, it’s time to grab your plunger - you can soften it first by running it under hot water.

Step five

Place it in the toilet, making sure it fully covers the hole and it’s completely under the water. Add water if you need to.

Step six

Starting slowly, push and then pull the plunger up sharply to loosen the clog.

Step seven

Speed up and check that the water is starting to drain away.

Step eight

Once you think you’ve cleared the blockage and the water has drained away, flush the toilet to check - you might need to try the process again if it’s not quite worked the first time.

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