Slip this inexpensive, small bottle of spray into your pocket or bag to keep whatever restroom you use smelling fresh.

Details

Let chemistry do the work, but be careful

Your objective is to get the liquid in the toilet bowl as hot and soapy as possible, as fast as possible, without letting it overflow. This is the step that requires the most finesse.

If you’ve already tried to flush the clog down a second time and the toilet bowl is positively brimming, add the soap directly to the toilet and then pour in as much hot water as you can — if you can.

If you’ve got plenty of clearance, however, go ahead and mix up the soap and water first, then pour the soapy brew into the bowl as swiftly as you can. In a perfect storm, the heat and soap will lubricate the clog while the force of the water will push it through. That said, hopefully your reflexes are quick, because you may need to abruptly stop pouring if the clog doesn’t immediately dislodge. 

A note on the soap: You really can’t overdo the soap at this point. You’re not going to agitate the solution all that much, so the bowl likely won’t erupt in a suds volcano should you go overboard with it. I’m not saying you have to pour the whole bottle of soap in there, but I’m also not saying you shouldn’t. Catch my drift?

If all else fails, give it more time

The worst-case scenario is that the clog is wedged too tightly in place and the above steps don’t push it down right away. If that happens, you don’t have to call a plumber or head to the hardware store just yet. 

Try giving it some time to let that hot soapy water work on breaking up the clog. Walk away, close the bathroom door, and wait 30 to 60 minutes before you check on it again. When you do, you may be pleasantly surprised to find your problem has disappeared down the drain.

That may mean blowing your cover if you’ve been trying to unclog the toilet incognito. In that case, the best you can hope for is to not become the butt of any future jokes. 

Good luck with that, too.

For more cleaning hacks, check out 14 of our favorite cleaning tools and how to speed-clean your kitchen in 15 minutes or less.
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