First: assess the situation
Stop flushing at once, because extra water can overflow the bowl. Extra flushes can make the bowl overflow. Look at the water level and check whether it is rising or falling.
If water is close to the rim, wait a few minutes. Put on rubber gloves and lay old towels around the base. Open a window, since the smell can be strong.
Method 1: Hot water and washing-up liquid
Pour a good squirt of washing-up liquid into the bowl, since it helps the blockage slide. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then add a bucket of hot, not boiling, water from waist height.
Boiling water can crack the pan, so avoid it. Wait and watch the level. If it drops, flush gently to test.
Method 2: The toilet plunger
Use a plunger made for toilets, which has a flange, because a flat one will not seal. Place it over the hole to make a seal. Push down gently first, to push out the air.
Then pump firmly several times and pull back. Keep the seal in place. If the water drains, flush once to test.
Method 3: A toilet/closet auger (drain snake)
A closet auger is a short, flexible tool for toilets. Feed the end into the bowl and turn the handle. It can break up or pull out the blockage.
Go gently, because porcelain scratches easily. Pull out the tool and clean it. Then flush to test.
What not to do
Do not use harsh drain chemicals in a toilet, since they can splash and harm skin. Never mix products. Do not keep flushing, because water may spill.
Also avoid metal rods that can scratch the pan. Avoid pushing hard objects down the toilet.
When to stop and call a plumber
Stop if the water does not move after a few tries, because more force can do harm. Stop too if other drains are slow, or if water comes up in the bath or sink. These signs suggest a blockage further down.
Call a plumber if the toilet keeps blocking. If you cannot reach the cause, you can ask for a free quote on our site.
What drainage engineers use
Engineers use long rods or a water jet to clear deeper blockages, since hand tools cannot reach far. They may use a camera to see inside the pipe. This helps them find the cause. Our page on drain cleaning and unblocking explains the service.
Preventing toilet blockages
Only flush toilet paper and human waste. Bin wipes, cotton buds and sanitary items. Wipes sold as flushable still cause many blockages, so bin them too.
Teach children not to flush toys, because they block pipes fast. A small bin in the bathroom makes it easy to do the right thing.
Related guides and local help
If you want to know more, read Kitchen Drain Problems: Causes, Fixes and Easy Prevention. You can also read How to Unblock a Drain: A Simple Step-by-Step UK Guide and Outside Drain Blocked: What to Do and Who Is Responsible, because they cover closely related problems.
These guides help too: Drain Maintenance: How to Keep Your Drains Clear All Year, 10 Plumbing Myths That Cost UK Homeowners Serious Money, Drain Jetting vs Rodding: Which Method Is Right for You?, Sewer Smell in the House: Causes and How to Fix Each One and 8 Common Causes of Blocked Outside Drains and What to Do. Each one explains a related topic in plain English.
Need help near you? Read our blocked drain guide first, or see Blocked Drains in Plymouth and Blocked Drains in Hull. You can also see Blocked Toilets in Bishops Stortford, since every service page has a free quote form. We pass each request to a local drainage engineer.
