When I first learned of how to unclog a toilet with dish soap I did not believe it, but it does work. The sinking feeling of the sight of a clogged toilet compares to none. Every one has felt it; the initial disgust and then the thought of a plumbing bill usually will set the wheels in motion. You tell yourself, It has to be done, and it has to be fixed, but how…
This method has been used successfully for most soft clogs. It will most likely not work on hard clogs, for example if the blockage is caused by a toy, or other type of item that does not belong in the toilet. (Many problem clogs are cuased by the type of toilet fresheners that are hung on the inside of the toilet bowl as these have a tendency to fall off and get stuck in the trap way.
So with the dish soap method, first turn off the water to the commode, there should be a shut off valve under the toilet or to one side of the toilet tank. This is just as a precaution in case you second flush the toilet by mistake and cause the water to spill over the sides of the bowl and onto the floor. Pour about ½ a cup of liquid dish soap into the toilet bowl with at least 1-2 gallons of hot water and let it sit until the water goes down, then repeat the process. Some suggest that you use boiling water may not be advisable since the seal that holds your toilet in place is made out of wax and it might melt. Boiling water may also cause a too sudden temperature change causing the porcelain of the toilet to crack. So, that being said, hot water will work just fine.
The dish soap has a heavier density than water so will sink to the bottom of the toilet. Enzymes and cleaning agents will set to work breaking down the clog. It will also act as a lubricant, ideally encouraging the blockage to slip through the trap-way pipes and out into the main drain.
If the dish soap method does not work after two tries, you may need to also use a toilet plunger. For those of you that have never used or bought a plunger here are some tips. Try to purchase a plunger with the accordion style cup on the end of it. Make sure it looks sturdy and the handle is not flimsy since you will be placing a lot of pressure on it. Pour another dose of dish soap in the toilet bowl and enough hot water to cover the plunger and press the plunger with full contact pushing straight down. Do this several times and the clog should drain, when it does pour another bucket of hot water to the bowl to clear the line. More on how to plunge a toilet.
Now there may be a clog that is just too tough for this method and you may need to call a plumber or use a toilet snake. However, this method is worth a try and many people have claimed this to work like a charm. Any one that has called a plumber out will know that toilet clogs always happen on a weekend when plumbers are time and a half. It’s the same reason why single socks disappear from the dryer!
Always ensure that you clean the toilet thoroughly once the clog has cleared. There may be a messy residue on the side of the toilet bowl and you’ll want to get rid of this. Try using a Clorox toilet wand. These have disposable heads that mean you never have to come into contact with dirty cleaning parts.
There’s more information on this site to help you clear away stubborn clogs. Start here on how to unclog toilet.
Just saved $200+ using the Dawn trick to unclog a toilet.
I’ve been a landlord for years and have spent $$$ on drain service. I know basic unclogging with a plunger or auger. But this toilet was stuck down the line — if I waited a half hour the line would empty of water and I’d get two or three flushes in before the water backed up.
That means the clog is down the line and will cost $$$ for a mainline drain snake by a plumber. New houses have cleanouts for access but on older homes the plumber has to go onto the roof and go in through the vents. $$$
After some Googling I found the Dawn trick and figured I had nothing to lose. I put about 10 oz of Dawn down the toilet, added a few glasses of hot water to move it down the line and waited over night.
The next morning a few more flushes cleared out the line. Let’s be logical – Dawn is great at cutting grease and grime and it is slippery stuff. If paper or waste is stuck in the pipe there’s a good chance of it working. Obviously if a kid threw a toy down there you’re out of luck.
TIPS
1. If you have CAST IRON pipes be careful to use SOLUBLE toilet paper. Do NOT use the thick, soft stuff. That will hang up on the pipes more easily. Old cast pipes get rough on the inside.
2. Check your FLAPPER. Our flapper was designed to conserve water. That means the flush only released part of the water needed to flush the waste, ESPECIALLY with that heavy toilet paper. Be sure you are doing a FULL flush or TWO for solid waste, especially in older homes.
3. Try the Dawn trick. Cheap and easy to try…and saved me a couple hundred bucks.