Knowledge Builders

what can you use instead of a plunger

by Prof. Buck Bradtke Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

If you don't have a plunger on hand, you can create a temporary device with a string mop, a plastic grocery bag and a zip tie or rubber band. To make your DIY plunger, place a plastic shopping bag over the mop head so that all of the strings are covered.

Try Vinegar and Baking Soda
Another potential home remedy for unclogging a toilet without a plunger uses vinegar and baking soda. The bowl needs to be about half-full of water before adding the other ingredients, so adjust the level accordingly.

Full Answer

What is the best plunger for a toilet?

A toilet plunger is perhaps the best option for all-around home use because the fold-out flap provides flexibility to allow it to fit just about any drain. of 04. Accordion Plunger Amazon. This interesting looking plunger has a design even better suited for clearing toilet clogs because it has a smaller cup.

What are the different types of drain plunger?

4 Types of Drain Plungers 1 Sink/Standard Plunger. This very basic plunger is what most people think of when talking about plungers. ... 2 Toilet Plunger. A toilet plunger has a cup, like that of the sink plunger, but it also has a soft rubber flap that folds out from inside the cup. 3 Accordion Plunger. ... 4 Taze Plunger. ...

Can you use a cup plunger to unclog a toilet?

Cup plungers are often used as toilet plungers, but this isn’t their intended purpose. They don’t seal toilet drains very well, and often get stuck inside-out and fling dirty water back on their users. The proper application of a cup plunger is using to unclog sinks and bathtub drains that can’t be cleaned with pliers or a wire hook.

How does a plunger work?

Plungers work by forming a seal around a drain to create suction, which clears the blockage. If you don't have a plunger on hand, you can create a temporary device with a string mop, a plastic grocery bag and a zip tie or rubber band. To make your DIY plunger, place a plastic shopping bag over the mop head so that all of the strings are covered.

image

What can be used like a plunger?

As an alternative to using dish soap for those situations where you're without a plunger, try this all-natural solution. Pour one cup baking soda and two cups vinegar into the toilet. Allow it fizz for a half hour. If clog doesn't dissipate, try the hot water trick.

How do you make a homemade plunger?

Making a DIY Plunger To make your DIY plunger, place a plastic shopping bag over the mop head so that all of the strings are covered. Then, use a zip tie, rubber band or something similar to tie the bag onto the handle, just under the base of the mop head.

What do you do if your toilet doesn't have a plunger?

We recommend you add a cup of baking soda to your blocked toilet and wait for some minutes. Next, pour two cups of vinegar slowly into the toilet. Vinegar and baking soda will typically react to form bubbles, so ensure you pour carefully and slowly to prevent the toilet water from overflowing or splashing.

How do you unblock a badly clogged toilet?

How Do You Unblock a Badly Clogged Toilet?Ways to Unclog Your Toilet.Lubricate the Blockage With Dish Soap.Make a Coat Hanger Snake.Break Up the Clog With Hot Water or Drain Cleaner.Mix Your Own Declogger.Plunge Using a Plastic Bottle.Unblock Your Toilet With Vinegar and Baking Soda.More items...•

How do you plunge a drain without a plunger?

Use a saline solution to dislodge a stubborn blockage To start, try dissolving a couple of tablespoons of salt in water, and pouring it down the plughole. Let it work for a good half hour to 40 minutes; then pour boiling water down the sink to wash down the solution.

Will a toilet eventually unclog itself?

A clogged toilet will typically unclog itself over time. Most things that clog a toilet are water-soluble which means they will eventually dissolve in the toilet water. When the clog is given enough time to break down, the pressure of a flush should be enough to clear the pipes.

What is the best liquid to unclog toilet?

These are the best drain cleaners, according to testing:Best Overall Drain Cleaner: Drano Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover.Best Drain Cleaner for Hair Clogs: Liquid Plumr Clog Destroyer + Hair Clog Eliminator.Best Single-Use Drain Cleaner: Green Gobbler Drain Opening Pacs.Best Enzymatic Drain Cleaner: Bio Clean.More items...•

Why won't my toilet flush when its not clogged?

If your toilet is not clogged but won't flush all the way, it is a sign that that the siphon jet and rim holes are clogged, or the level of water inside the tank is too low. The problem could also be caused by a bent/warped flush valve, slack lift chain or a poorly designed drainpipe.

Can I use a plastic bottle as a plunger?

Fill a large plastic bottle with warm water. Keeping your thumb over the top, fit the top of the bottle into the outlet at the bottom of the toilet. Remove your thumb and hold the bottle tightly with both hands. Squeeze the bottle so the water shoots out into the toilet drain.

What household items can unclog a toilet?

Adding a gallon of hot water can unclog your toilet. Everyday household items, like soap and a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, can help with the clog. If the blockage is further down the pipe, you can create a plumber's snake by unraveling a wire hanger.

How do you make a homemade plunger for a shower?

Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed immediately by half a cup of distilled vinegar. The combination will create a fizzing action that will work away the blockage. Leave it to work for at least twenty minutes and then pour a kettle of hot water down the drain to flush away the blockage.

How do you unblock a shower without a plunger?

Mix together 1 cup of vinegar (distilled white vinegar works best) and 1 cup of baking soda. First, pour boiling water down the drain to loosen; then follow with the baking soda-vinegar mixture and wait 15 minutes. Rinse with more boiling water.

How to unclog a toilet that is clogged?

One way is to straighten a wire hanger and push one end into the pipe to dislodge what's clogging it. Alternatively, create a science project to unclog your toilet. Simply add one part baking soda and two parts vinegar to the toilet bowl and allow it to fizz before flushing it through the pipe with hot water .

How do plungers work?

Plungers work by forming a seal around a drain to create suction, which clears the blockage. If you don't have a plunger on hand, you can create a temporary device with a string mop, a plastic grocery bag and a zip tie or rubber band. To make your DIY plunger, place a plastic shopping bag over the mop head so that all of the strings are covered. Then, use a zip tie, rubber band or something similar to tie the bag onto the handle, just under the base of the mop head. Flush the toilet so that water fills the bowl, and insert the bag-covered mop head into the hole at the bottom of the toilet. Use up and down motions to loosen the material, much like you would a regular plunger, and continue until the water gets sucked down into the hole.

What to do when toilet is clogged?

When most people find themselves faced with a clogged toilet, the first thing they do is reach for the trusty rubber plunger. Sometimes, however, we may find ourselves in a situation where a plunger just isn't available, in which case we'll need to take alternative measures to get the toilet working again. Fortunately, removing clogs can easily be ...

How to make a plunger for a toilet?

You can also make a homemade plunger with a plastic bottle. Start by removing as much water from the bowl as you can, then fill a plastic bottle, such as a 1-liter, with warm water. Use your finger to plug the top of the bottle and insert it upside down into the bowl so that the tip of the bottle is inside the hole at the bottom of the toilet.

What is the purpose of cleaning the toilet bowl?

Clean your toilet bowl regularly to ensure proper hygiene and health for you and your toilet bowl . Krissy Howard is a NY-based freelance writer who specializes in creating content regarding pet care, skin care, gardening, and original humor. Her work has appeared on Reader's Digest, Hello Giggles, and Reductress.

Who is Krissy Howard?

Krissy Howard is a NY-based freelance writer who specializes in creating content regarding pet care, skin care, gardening, and original humor. Her work has appeared on Reader's Digest, Hello Giggles, and Reductress.

What Kind Should You Get?

Someday, somebody may improve on the classic toilet plunger design. When that happens, we’ll be first in line, but it hasn’t happened yet. For now, a toilet plunger is a long handle with a cup or bowl on the end, and that’s what you should buy.

What is a touchless plunger?

A touchless plunger is a giant bellows that you insert between your toilet seat and bowl, then pump by moving the seat up and down.

What is a bellows plunger?

Bellows plungers can be bought for toilets or sinks. Instead of a solid tip, they have a corrugated bowl that compresses like an accordion. The collapse makes the plunge more powerful, and in theory, flushes out blockages more quickly. In practice, it’s not always easy to direct all that power.

How wide can a bee plunger seal?

The best beehive plungers can seal pipes up to six inches across. Some also come with t-shaped handles for added leverage while fighting blockages.

Can a power plunger fling toilet water in your face?

It’s definitely a novel way to replicate the back-and-forth action of a traditional plunger, but we’re not seeing anything here that entices us to switch over — especially since there’s a risk that the power plunger will just fling toilet water in your face instead of moving the blockage.

Can a cup plunger be used as a toilet plunger?

Cup plungers are often used as toilet plungers, but this isn’t their intended purpose. They don’t seal toilet drains very well, and often get stuck inside-out and fling dirty water back on their users.

What is a toilet plunger?

A toilet plunger has a cup, like that of the sink plunger, but it also has a soft rubber flap that folds out from inside the cup. This type of plunger is also called a flange plunger. The fold-out flap fits quite well into the toilet drain opening, making it easy to form the necessary suction to clear a toilet clog.

How does a plunger work?

A plunger works its magic by simple suction and pressure . When the rubber cup of the plunger is sealed down over the drain opening and the handle is moved up and down, the pressure of water forced up and down will dislodge most clogs and allow them to continue on through the drain pipes. There are various types of plungers, ...

What is a plunger?

Share. Email. Floortje / Getty Images. Plungers are perhaps the best known and most common of basic household tools for dealing with drain clogs of all sorts. Since drain clogs are such a common plumbing problem, dealing with them can become expensive if you call a plumber to clear every stoppage. Fortunately, drain plungers are not only ...

Why is a cup considered a sink plunger?

This is considered a sink plunger because it really only works well on a flat surface, like a sink, where the cup can lay flat over the drain and create the vacuum necessary to properly plunge and dislodge the sink clog .

What is a standard plunger?

A standard plunger has a rubber cup at the end of a straight handle, usually made of wood. Sometimes the handle of the cup is a different size, but the basic structure stays the same.

Is a plunger good for a toilet?

This interesting-looking plunger has a design even better suited for clearing toilet clogs because it has a smaller cup. It is not very well suited for use on other drains. It can produce quite a bit of force but it is not very easy to use. The plastic that it's made of is quite hard, so creating a vacuum seal over the drain is a challenge. This is a powerful but not very versatile plunger.

Can a plunger be used on a sink?

With the flap folded inside the cup, this plunger can also be used on a sink or tub drain to create a seal. A toilet plunger is perhaps the best option for all-around home use because the fold-out flap provides flexibility to allow it to fit just about any drain. Featured Video. 03 of 04.

image

1.No Plunger, No Problem: How to Unclog a Toilet Without …

Url:https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/589873/how-to-unclog-toilet-without-plunger

35 hours ago  · There are several names for a drain snake including plumber’s snake and drain auger. Unlike a plunger, this device digs deeper down into your drain to unclog it and break up …

2.Homemade Toilet Plunger | Hunker

Url:https://www.hunker.com/13421806/homemade-toilet-plunger

19 hours ago What can I use instead of a plunger? What To Do When You Don’t Have A Plunger. Wire Hanger. If there’s no plunger around and you need to do something to get that clog to go down, head over …

3.8 Different Types of Plungers (With Pictures) | House Grail

Url:https://housegrail.com/types-of-plungers/

25 hours ago  · Baking soda and vinegar is a great mixture that does a whole lot more than make a cool volcano. This mixture makes an incredible cleaner for many different types of surfaces. It …

4.4 Types of Drain Plungers and How to Choose One - The …

Url:https://www.thespruce.com/types-of-plungers-2718737

17 hours ago  · Plungers work by forming a seal around a drain to create suction, which clears the blockage. If you don't have a plunger on hand, you can create a temporary device with a string …

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9