How to use a plunger in a toilet: How to Plunge a Clogged Toilet (DIY)

The Best Toilet Plungers for Your Bathroom

If you need a toilet plunger, don’t buy a sink plunger. Here’s a rundown of some the best (and best-looking!) toilet plungers on the market.

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What To Look For in a Toilet Plunger

A toilet plunger is to a bathroom what a screwdriver is to a toolbox: A simple, inexpensive item you’re sure to need at some point. It’s the first thing you should reach for when your toilet clogs. Most of the time, it’s the only tool you’ll need for that purpose.

First, know the difference between a toilet plunger and a sink plunger. A toilet plunger is specifically made to fit inside the toilet opening; a wide, flat-rimmed sink plunger isn’t. The rounded shape of a toilet plunger tapers into a small opening, and a long handle keeps you at a safe distance.

If you’ve been using a sink plunger for your toilet, you probably haven’t had much success. Your should own both, but if you only have room in your bathroom for one, make it a toilet plunger. You have other options for cleaning sink clogs, such as disassembling the P-trap.

Over the years manufacturers introduced innovative design elements to improve plunging power and ease of use. Some models offer the same domed shape as a sink plunger but with a tapered flange. Others resemble beehives, and still others feature bellows. You’ll find a T-handle on some models that makes them easier to handle and pump.

Consider these features when shopping for the best toilet plunger:

• Shape: The beehive shape is the most effective. It features a larger volume than the traditional dome shape and it’s easier to fill with water than a model with bellows. (By the way, you should always fill your toilet plunger with water before pumping. Otherwise, you’re just pumping compressible air that will probably escape through the toilet vent before it gets to an obstruction deep in the pipes. ) The third option — the flanged cup — is almost as effective as the beehive, and it’s a more versatile.
• Plunger material: Either rubber or malleable plastic. Rubber is best because it’s flexible, long-lasting and doesn’t leave marks on the toilet bowl. Choose synthetic rubber if you don’t like the smell of natural rubber.
• Handle: Go for the T-handle. A plunger with a straight handle will work just fine, and some models feature plastic handles molded for easy gripping. You’ll develop more plunging pressure, however, if you have a bar to apply vertical force.

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Best Toilet Plunger Overall

The Korky Beehive Max gets top marks from almost every reviewer on the web. It fits old toilets with round water outlets as well as new high efficiency ones with oblong-shaped outlets.

The T-handle and flexible rubber plunger make it easy to pump. The manufacturer offers an adjustable handle option for ease of operation when working in close quarters. It doesn’t come with a holder, though. You have to purchase that separately.

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Best Accordion Toilet Plunger

A bellows-style accordion plunger can develop more thrust than a beehive plunger, helpful for pushing really stubborn clogs down the pipes and out of your life.

Luigi’s Toilet Plunger overcomes two of the problems common with bellows plungers. It’s flexible enough to fit in the bowl outlet at an angle, and you can bend it in the bowl to fill it with water. It’s so flexible that you can even push it partway into the toilet outlet to shove objects out of the way.

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Best Flanged Cup Toilet Plunger

The flange of the Neiko 60166A Toilet Plunger is ribbed and tapered, an improvement over standard flanged cup plungers. This lets it fit securely in any toilet outlet and seal tightly to provide maximum thrust even when you change the angle.

The flange won’t double over on itself when you’re plunging, as sometimes happens with bellows and flanged cup plungers. With its lightweight aluminum handle and compact cup, this plunger will stow easily in a corner of the bathroom.

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Best Toilet Plunger/Brush Combo

You’ll need a brush to clean the toilet more often than you’ll need a plunger, so it’s nice to have a matching set. The Mr. Siga Toilet Plunger and Bowl Brush Combo is just that.

The plunger is a flanged cup model with a straight plastic handle that widens at the end for comfortable gripping. It stows in a plastic caddy that holds a matching brush in a separate compartment. More functionality with less bathroom clutter.

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Best-Looking Toilet Plunger

A toilet plunger isn’t the most attractive tool. And with its long handle, it’s difficult to store in the sink cabinet. The Oxo Good Grips Toilet Plunger was made for those with an eye for style.

The plunger itself is a black, rubber, flanged cup model with a white handle. When you store it in the white caddy that seals shut, the cup disappears. All you see is the stylish white canister, which looks good in any bathroom.

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Best Toilet Plunger Splurge

A good-quality toilet plunger typically won’t set you back more than about $20. But if you don’t mind doubling your investment for an upgrade, go for the Blue Donuts Free Standing Toilet Brush and Plunger set.

The brush and plunger feature interchangeable heads, stored in a full-sized canister with a removable drip tray. The canister fits in the narrow space between the toilet and the wall, or in any other part of a bathroom with limited space.

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Best Basic Toilet Plunger

If you need a plunger in a hurry and don’t want to spend a lot, grab a Get Bats Out Toilet Plunger and go to work.

It’s a black rubber, flanged, cup-style plunger attached to a long plastic handle. It’s nothing fancy, but it works on most toilets. Its lack of flexibility may make it unsuitable for small toilet outlets, or the oval ones found on elongated toilet bowls.

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Best Sink Plunger

We know: Up top, we told you not to buy a plunger shaped like this. But hundreds of Amazon reviewers swear by this Supply Guru Cup-Style plunger. It can clear toilet clogs in a pinch, and it works on sink, tub, shower and floor drains too.

There’s nothing frilly about this old-fashioned plunger, with its generic brown rubber cup and wooden handle. The price is rock bottom, too. So if you’re looking for a single plunger for all your drain clogs, try this one, although you’ll probably find you need an actual toilet plunger for really stubborn clogs.

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Best Toilet Plunger Alternative

The ToiletShroom isn’t a plunger, but it can clear clogs that aren’t too deep in the pipes. The innovative design allows you to push the ribbed head deep into the toilet opening to push obstructions into the drain.

This tool combines a lightweight stainless steel handle with a tapered rubber head that has successively larger ribs. It also cleans the toilet opening. You can pump it like a plunger but it won’t develop the same force. Nevertheless, it’s a popular tool that some people love.

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Originally Published: May 10, 2022

Chris Deziel

Chris Deziel has been active in the building trades for more than 30 years. He helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies. He has worked as a carpenter, plumber and furniture refinisher. Deziel has been writing DIY articles since 2010 and has worked as an online consultant, most recently with Home Depot’s Pro Referral service. His work has been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker. Deziel has also published science content and is an avid musician.

How to Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger

By

Aaron Stickley

Aaron Stickley

Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron’s articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.

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Updated on 06/11/22

Reviewed by

Richard Epstein

Reviewed by
Richard Epstein

Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. He specializes in estimating as well as design and engineering for plumbing systems, and he works for one of New York’s largest union plumbing construction companies.

Learn more about The Spruce’s
Review Board

Fact checked by

Jessica Wrubel

Fact checked by
Jessica Wrubel

Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.

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The Spruce / Ellen Lindner

Project Overview

A clogged toilet is a very common yet often alarming plumbing problem that most people have to deal with at one time or another. If this is your first time unclogging a toilet, just follow some basic steps to clear the way to a full flush. All you need is a toilet plunger, the right technique, and a few minutes.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have the right plunger for the job before you begin. Believe it or not, there are different types of plungers for different types of plumbing fixtures. The most basic type is a cup plunger, also called a sink plunger. It has a dome-shaped rubber cup with a flat bottom. This type is best for sinks and tubs because the flat bottom creates a seal around the relatively flat sink or tub basin.

The proper tool for plunging a toilet is a toilet plunger, also called a flange plunger. This has a cup that’s taller than the cup on a sink plunger, and it has a sleeve-like extension, the flange, on the bottom of the cup. The flange fits into the hole in your toilet bowl for a good seal. The flange can also fold up into the cup so the plunger can be used on sinks and tubs. A cup plunger is much less effective for clearing toilet clogs, so, for this task, you’ll want a flange plunger.

Watch Now: How to Unclog a Toilet

Equipment / Tools

• Rubber gloves
• Toilet plunger

Materials

• Water to fill toilet bowl (if necessary)

Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

1. Fill the Toilet Bowl (as Needed)

   Make sure there is standing water in the toilet bowl. Submerging the head of the plunger is ideal, but you need at least enough water to cover the rim of the plunger cup (not just the flange). If there’s anything floating in the toilet bowl, don’t sweat it (that’s why plumbers can charge so much!). Add water to the bowl if necessary.

   Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

2. Position the Plunger

   Put on rubber gloves if you wish. Make sure the flange of the toilet plunger is completely pulled out from the cup. Lower the plunger into the bowl at an angle so the cup fills with as much water as possible. If you go straight down, the cup traps a lot of air, which will compress more than water and reduce the plunging force. Fit the cup over the toilet’s drain hole so the flange is inside the hole and the cup forms a complete seal around the outside of the hole. 

   Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

3. Work the Plunger

   Grip the plunger handle in both hands, and push down on the cup forcefully, then pull back up without breaking the cup’s seal around the hole. Repeat the push-pull motion five or six times, then pull the cup off of the hole after the last thrust.

   The goal is to create rapidly alternating forces of compression and suction in the toilet drain to loosen the clog. If your pushing seems to be blowing out the side of the cup rather than down into the hole, you don’t have a proper seal. Reposition the cup, and try again. 

   Repeat the series of plunging motions as needed until the bowl empties by itself. Set the plunger aside. 

   Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

   Tip

   Maintain some downward pressure on the plunger at all times while plunging, even when letting up a bit on the upstroke. If you let up on the pressure completely, you’ll break the seal around the cup.

4. Flush the Toilet

   Remove the tank lid from the toilet, and locate the round rubber trap door (called the flapper) at the center of the tank bottom; this is your emergency water shutoff if the toilet is still clogged.

   Flush the toilet. If it flushes normally, you’re all done, and you can set the lid back on the tank. If you’re not so lucky and the toilet is still clogged and threatens to overflow, reach into the tank and push the flapper down over the hole to stop the flow of water from the tank to the bowl. When the tank stops refilling, plunge the toilet again.

   Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

If Plunging Doesn’t Work

If you can’t clear the clog after several rounds of plunging, you can try clearing it with a toilet auger before finding a plumber. A toilet auger, or closet auger, is a specialty version of a drain snake designed specifically for toilets. It has a telescoping metal tube with a crank handle on one end and a cable running inside. Insert the cable end (which has a corkscrew tip) into the toilet, and then turn the handle while pushing the cable down through the toilet trap to clear the clog.

In addition to driving through and breaking up a tough clog, the corkscrew tip of the cable can grab onto obstructions in the toilet trap so you can pull them out. This is often required if a sponge or other inappropriate item gets flushed down the toilet and becomes stuck.

Rules for Cleaning Sink, Bathtub, and Toilet Bowls / Clearing Clogs / Plumbing and Plumbing / Publications / Plumbing

Is your sink or toilet clogged? Vantuz to help you! This household appliance helps to quickly and efficiently break mud plugs, eliminating blockages. The main thing is to choose the right tool and learn how to use it correctly. How to use a plunger in order to get rid of blockages in plumbing equipment with a minimum of effort, we will consider in the article.

Contents

• Design and types of plungers
• For sinks and bathtubs
• For toilets
• How to use the plunger in the sink
• Video: how to use the plunger in the bath Device and types of plungers

  A plunger is a device consisting of two elements: a rubber cup-shaped nozzle and a wooden or plastic handle.

  Closing the drain hole will prevent pressure loss on the stuck mud plug.

  Instructions for using the tool to clear the clog in the sink or tub is quite simple:

  1. The sink or tub is emptied of excess liquid, leaving a small amount just near the drain hole.
  2. Install the tool so that the rubber cap completely covers the drain hole.
  3. By pressing on the cap, perform several active strokes, after which the device is abruptly removed.
  4. If used correctly, small pieces of dirt will start to come out of the hole along with the drains. At this moment, the nozzle is moved aside, allowing the drain to fill with water, and, without waiting for the liquid to leave again, it is re-pumped.
  5. If stagnant water does not sink into the drain hole, repeat the procedure.
  6. After making sure that the plug is broken, flush the drain hole with hot water.

  Using a pneumatic sink plunger is not much more difficult. The procedure is performed in the following sequence:

  1. Draw water into the pump container by immersing the device in a filled bucket or under a tap of water.
  2. Plug all nearby drains and overflows.
  3. After docking the nozzle of the device with the drain hole, press it firmly so that it fits snugly on the surface.
  4. With a sharp movement, the piston is pushed into the container of the device, pushing the water out of the pump.
  5. If the cork is not broken by a strong stream of water, the procedure must be repeated.
  6. At the end of the procedure, the drain is rinsed with hot water.

  Tough blockages may require several “flushings”.

  Tip: If the rubber suction cup does not fit snugly into the drain hole, coat the edges with regular baby cream or petroleum jelly.

  Video: how to use a plunger in the bathtub

  Eliminate clogging in the toilet with a plunger

  The procedure for cleaning the toilet with a plunger is not much different from the technology described above. It includes 6 stages:

  1. The toilet bowl filled with sewage is half emptied. If, on the contrary, the toilet bowl is empty, it must be filled with water to the usual level so that the liquid covers only the suction cup.
  2. The instrument is applied with a suction cup to a wide inlet so that its edges rest firmly on a hard surface.
  3. Gently move the instrument handle up and down for 20-25 seconds so that the rubber cup transfers pressure to the liquid.
  4. Having completed the “pumping”, pull the handle with a sharp upward movement.
  5. If done correctly, a gurgling sound will be heard and the crushed mud plug will float to the surface. The procedure is repeated until the effluents go into the sewer.
  6. After removing the blockage, flush the hole with hot water.

  Important! Remember that the power of the hydraulic shock created by the device directly depends on the force and speed of pressing on the rubber nozzle.

  In the process of “pumping” it is important to prevent air leaks.

  The tool should be held while “pumping” so that it does not prematurely detach from the surface.

  A plunger is most effective only if a dirt plug has formed close to the toilet drain. Otherwise, only more radical measures will give the desired effect.

  How to use a plunger: rules for cleaning sinks, bathtubs and toilet bowls

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  Is the sink or toilet clogged? Vantuz to help you! This household appliance helps to quickly and efficiently break mud plugs, eliminating blockages. The main thing is to choose the right tool and learn how to use it correctly. How to use a plunger in order to get rid of blockages in plumbing equipment with a minimum of effort, we will consider in the article.

  Design and types of plungers

  A plunger is a device consisting of two elements: a rubber cup-shaped nozzle and a wooden or plastic handle.

  Cleaning the sink with a plunger is the most gentle way to break the dirt plug without using caustic chemicals and mechanical damage to the inner walls of the pipeline.

  for washbasins and bathtubs

  Mechanical plungers for cleaning sinks are available in two versions:

  • with thick washer-shaped rubber cap;
  • with elastic cone.

  Depending on the shape of the nozzle, it is possible to obtain different degrees of compression effect on the cleaned assembly.

  Advice: for effective use of the device, when choosing a product, you should focus on the diameter of the drain hole of plumbing equipment.

  Separately, it is worth highlighting pneumatic plungers. Outwardly, they resemble pumps, with a capacity of 1-2 liters, equipped with rubber tips.

  Although these devices are professional equipment, even amateurs can easily use them.

  For WC

  The WC plungers also have cone-shaped nozzles, but with a larger diameter. The body volume of these products can reach 1 dm ³ .

  Tip: When clearing a clogged toilet with a plunger, it’s not uncommon for the rubber part of the tool to get stuck in the drain hole. To prevent this, additionally fasten the elements of the device by nailing the bowl with carnations to the handle.

  The pneumatic model differs from its bathtub or washbasin counterpart only in the diameter and shape of the nozzle. On sale there are universal models, which come with a set of suction cups. By changing the nozzles, you can clean both toilet sinks and sinks or showers.

  How to use the plunger in the sink

  Before using the plunger in the sink, the overflow hole must be tightly closed.

  Instructions for using the tool to clear a clog in a sink or bathtub are quite simple:

  1. The sink or bathtub is emptied of excess liquid, leaving a small amount just near the drain hole.
  2. The tool is installed so that the rubber nozzle completely blocks the drain hole.
  3. By pressing on the cap, perform several active strokes, after which the device is abruptly removed.
  4. If used correctly, small pieces of dirt will start to come out of the hole along with the drains. At this moment, the nozzle is moved aside, allowing the drain to fill with water, and, without waiting for the liquid to leave again, it is re-pumped.
  5. If stagnant water does not sink into the drain hole, repeat the procedure.
  6. After making sure that the plug is broken, flush the drain hole with hot water.

  Using a pneumatic sink plunger is not much more difficult. The procedure is performed in the following sequence:

  1. Draw water into the pump tank by immersing the device in a filled bucket or under a tap with water.
  2. Plug all nearby drains and overflows.
  3. After docking the nozzle of the device with the drain hole, press it firmly so that it fits snugly on the surface.
  4. With a sharp movement, the piston is pushed into the container of the device, pushing the water out of the pump.
  5. If the cork is not destroyed by a strong stream of water, the procedure must be repeated.
  6. At the end of the procedure, the drain is flushed with hot water.

  Tip: If the rubber suction cup doesn’t fit snugly into the drain hole, coat the edges with regular baby cream or petroleum jelly.

  Removing blockage in the toilet with a plunger

  The procedure for cleaning the toilet with a plunger is not much different from the technology described above. It includes 6 steps:

  1. The toilet bowl filled with drains is half emptied. If, on the contrary, the toilet bowl is empty, it must be filled with water to the usual level so that the liquid covers only the suction cup.
  2. The tool is applied with a suction cup to a wide entrance hole so that its edges rest firmly on a hard surface.
  3. Gently move the instrument handle up and down for 20-25 seconds so that the rubber cup transfers pressure to the liquid.
  4. After completing the “pumping”, pull the handle with a sharp upward movement.
  5. If done correctly, a gurgling sound will be heard and the crushed mud plug will float to the surface. The procedure is repeated until the effluents go into the sewer.
  6. After removing the blockage, flush the hole with hot water.

  Important! Remember that the power of the hydraulic shock created by the device directly depends on the force and speed of pressing on the rubber nozzle.

  The tool must be held while “pumping” so that it does not prematurely detach from the surface.

  A plunger is most effective only if a dirt plug has formed close to the toilet drain. Otherwise, only more radical measures will give the desired effect.

  • 1 Device and types of plungers
  • 2 For sinks and bathtubs
  • 3 For toilets
  • 4 How to use the plunger in the sink
  • 5 Eliminate clogging with the plunger in the toilet

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