Most blocked toilets can be cleared at home with a plunger and a little patience, although some need an engineer. If the toilet stays blocked, or the water keeps rising, stop and ask for help. This guide shows what to try and when to give up.

Why toilets block

A toilet blocks when something stops waste leaving the bowl. Too much paper is the usual cause. Wipes, nappies, sanitary items and cotton buds are the next most common. Because these do not break down, they catch in the bend of the pipe. A fault further along the drain can also be to blame. What causes a drain blockage covers the wider picture.

What to do first

Stop flushing, because the bowl may overflow. Lift the lid of the cistern and tie the float up if the water keeps running. Then put on gloves and lay old towels around the base. Check whether other fixtures drain slowly. If they do, the fault may lie in the main drain. In that case, read blocked drain pipe: branch or main run to judge where the problem sits.

Home methods that work

Plunging

A plunger is the best first tool, as the best way to unblock a toilet without a plumber also explains. Use one with a flange that fits the toilet outlet. Press it down gently to push out air, then pump firmly with the seal intact. Keep going for a minute or two. Often the water drains away with a gurgle.

Hot water and washing-up liquid

Pour a good squeeze of washing-up liquid into the bowl and wait. Then add a bucket of hot water, but not boiling, because very hot water can crack porcelain. The soap can loosen a soft blockage. Leave it for a few minutes before flushing.

Baking soda and vinegar

Some people pour in baking soda followed by vinegar. The fizz may help to loosen light clogs. However, it is mild and often does little against a solid blockage. Treat it as a gentle option, not a cure.

Toilet auger

A toilet auger is a short flexible rod with a handle. Feed it into the bowl, turn it to catch the blockage, then pull it back. Go slowly, because a rough push can scratch the porcelain. How to clear a slow draining toilet covers the early stage of the same problem. For other tools, see methods to unblock clogged drains.

When to call a professional

Stop and ask for help if the plunger fails after several tries, because forcing it can make things worse. The same applies if sewage appears in a bath or shower, or if more than one toilet is blocked. These signs point to a problem beyond the bowl, since the blockage is further down the pipe. A macerator toilet is different again, and Saniflo not flushing explains common faults. For a full overview, read clearing a blocked drain: the North London guide.

Our blocked toilet clearance page explains what an engineer does. Deeper blockages may need high-pressure water, because rods cannot always shift them. Clearing your blockage with drain jetting describes this. If you need help at night, the benefits of a 24-hour drain unblocking service shows how out-of-hours work operates. Use the online enquiry form to report a blockage.

What not to do

Some quick fixes make things worse. Do not flush repeatedly, because the bowl can overflow onto the floor. Avoid harsh drain chemicals in a toilet, since they can splash and they rarely shift a solid blockage. Never use a metal tool that can scratch the porcelain, and do not push a coat hanger down the pipe, because it can snag and cause a second blockage.

If a blockage clears but returns within days, treat that as a warning. The cause may be deeper in the drain, so a camera check is worth considering.

Stopping it happening again

Flush only toilet paper and human waste, because nothing else breaks down. Bin wipes, even those labelled flushable. Keep a bin in the bathroom so there is no temptation. How to keep a drain clear of blockage adds simple habits for the rest of the house. Problems caused by blocked toilets explains why it pays to act early.

Help in North London

We clear blocked drains across the area, and that includes drain unblocking in Enfield, blocked drains in Barnet and drain clearance in Edgware.