Instructions
A clogged toilet often can be cleared in a few simple steps. Give these a try before you call in the pros. It should be obvious, but if you think your toilet is blocked, don't use it until the blockage is cleared.

Step One
If it's not flushing the first time, don't flush again. Sometimes pouring a bucket of cold water into the toilet is all that's needed, especially if you notice it's pretty full & likely to clog. Pour quickly, but not so fast that it roils up over the top. Don't fill it over the bottom of the rim in case you have to plunge again.

Step Two

Make sure the water supply to the toilet is off." It should be located right behind the toilet, it looks like a regular faucet knob. Do not shut off the supply for the house, since this will prevent others from using water. If the water is off to at least the toilet, this will prevent the bathroom from flooding.

Step Three (optional)
Place some old towels or blankets on the floor around the toilet, (no matter how careful you are, some water will likely splash onto the floor).

Step Four
Insert the plunger into the toilet, making sure the rubber globe or cup is fully seated over the drain opening and covered with water.

Step Five
Push the plunger handle down with firm strokes. Increase pressure on the clog by pushing and releasing the plunger 10 to 15 times. Rough, careless plunging can damage the toilet bowl. If the clog isn't too tight, these bursts of increased water pressure caused by the plunger, will probably clear the obstruction. You should hear a hollow sound indicating that the line is cleared.

Step Six
Attack tougher problems with a toilet auger (similar to a plumber's snake but covered in a plastic sheath to protect the toilet bowl from scratches). Lost toys, tubes of makeup and stubborn clogs will all probably require an auger.

Step Seven
Flush the toilet when you think the clog has moved. As a precaution, have the toilet tank lid off and be ready to stop the water flow by raising the ball in the toilet tank, or be ready to shut the water to the toilet of again.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy the highest-quality plunger you can.

• If the plunger or the auger don't remove the clog, you options are to call in the pros or remove the toilet yourself and manually remove the blockage.

• If you're desperate and can't get hold of a plumber, a strong wet/dry vacuum will sometimes be able to remove a clog.

• Be very cautious about using a chemical drain cleaner/opener in a clogged toilet. They are caustic and can cause chemical burns to the eyes or skin. Make sure that any product used is specifically marked as safe for use with porcelain, and follow the manufacturer's directions exactly. Never mix any of these chemical agents, as dangerous reactions could occur. Never attempt to plunge a toilet after you have put drain cleaner in the bowl.

• Most toilet clogs are caused by accumulations of paper products in the bowl’s narrow trap or by miscellaneous items that accidentally fall into the toilet and get stuck in the trap. A complete blockage can cause a toilet to overflow; a partial clog can result in sluggish flushing. Whatever the cause -- toilet blockages are more than frustrating. Find out how to unclog them.