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How to unblock a toilet

Clean and unblocked toilet with a brush nearby on a patterned tiled floor.

Overview

A blocked toilet can be a frustrating issue, but it’s often a problem you can solve yourself with the right approach. Here’s a step-by-step guide to unblock a toilet to get things flowing smoothly again.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Steps

1Remove excess water

If your toilet bowl is full, you’ll need to create some space for the toilet plunger to work effectively. Use a small container or cup to carefully remove excess water from the bowl, pouring it into a bucket or nearby sink. Leave just enough water to cover the rubber flange of the plunger, as this will help create a proper seal.
A person wearing a yellow rubber glove is carefully removing excess water from the toilet bowl using a plastic container.

2Start plunging

With the plunger in place, begin with a gentle push to establish suction. Then, give it a series of strong, steady pumps. The motion works by pushing and pulling to loosen whatever is causing the clog. After a few plunges, carefully remove the plunger to check if the water level in the bowl starts to go down. If it does, flush the toilet to confirm that everything is back to normal. If the toilet blockage isn’t cleared on the first try, don’t give up. Simply reposition the plunger over the drain hole and repeat the process. Persistent plunging often does the trick, so keep going until you see progress.
A person wearing yellow rubber gloves is using a plunger to unblock a toilet.

3Use a drain auger for stubborn clogs

If plunging doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s time to bring out a drain auger. This flexible tool is designed to reach deeper blockages in the pipe. Feed the flexible end of the auger into the toilet drain, turning the handle to help it move further down. If you feel resistance, continue twisting to break up the blockage or hook onto it. Once the auger has worked through the clogged toilet, pull it back out carefully. After using the auger, flush the toilet again to see if the issue has been resolved.
A person wearing a red shirt and yellow rubber gloves is using a drain auger to unclog a toilet in a tiled bathroom.

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.