Blocked toilet or sink
You don’t need fancy tools to unblock a sink or toilet, or any special DIY or plumbing skills.
How to unblock a toilet
A blocked toilet can seem like an emergency job, and you might panic and think it’s time to call a plumber. But very often it’s easy to fix by using a simple method. Firstly, if your toilet is blocked, don’t flush the toilet again, as this may make the problem worse.
You will need:
- Rubber gloves
- A plunger (or simply tie a bin bag over a mop head)
1. Place the plunger into the toilet bowl and push up and down. Don’t push too hard as this may cause the water or waste to spill out. Continue to plunge until the water runs away.
2. Lift the mop gently to the side of the toilet bowl, and flush.
3. Put a small amount of tissue inside the toilet bowl and flush once more to make sure the toilet is completely clear.
4. Check behind the toilet bowl to make sure that there are no leaks.
If this doesn’t work, you can try using chemical drain products from your local DIY store, making sure to follow the safety instructions carefully.
How to unblock a sink
If you’re stuck with a blocked sink, it’s not always obvious what the best approach is. As a guide, follow our simple steps to get the water flowing freely again.
You will need:
- A plunger
- An old dish cloth
- Some gloves
- Clean out any grime that might be stuck in the plug hole, and make sure that the plug hole is covered in water to give you an air-tight seal for the plunger.
- Use the dish cloth to block up the overflow opening of the sink. You might need to hold the dish cloth tightly against the overflow to ensure a good seal.
- Place the plunger over the plughole and ensure a seal is formed, then drive the handle up and down in a pumping action to create suction until the blockage has been removed. If you’re struggling, you could perhaps ask somebody to help, and they can focus on keeping the overflow seal tight while you use the plunger.
If this doesn’t work, your local DIY store can recommend the best chemical drain products, as well as the correct safety equipment such as rubber gloves and goggles.