If you’re searching for “how to unclog a toilet with poop in it,” we’re sorry.
That’s a messy problem to have. Fortunately for you, our guide will show you the steps to take to get your porcelain throne back in order.
Unclogging a Toilet With Poop in It
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There are few worse feelings than the panic that sets in when you clog a toilet with poop. While it may seem like all hope is lost, don’t make that embarrassing phone call to a plumber just yet.
Luckily, there are many sure-fire ways to unclog a toilet with poop in it yourself. In this article, we’ll list the supplies you’ll need to unclog the poop from your toilet as quickly and hygienically as possible.
We’ll give you a step-by-step guide to the unclogging process, suggest a few tips for success, and tackle some frequently asked questions.
Unfortunately, the easiest way to unclog a toilet with poop in it is probably the solution you’ve been dreading—removing the poop from the toilet.
Removing the poop before starting the plunging process will make the rest of the steps vastly easier.
And without poop in the bowl, you can proceed with unclogging the toilet as you normally would. It’s crucial to keep your hands as clean as possible, so latex or nitrile gloves are a must for this process.
But if the idea of touching your own poop—even with a gloved hand—is simply too much for you, you can use some basic chemistry to unclog your toilet instead. But this route takes longer and requires more supplies.
How to Unclog a Toilet With Poop in 6 Steps
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Let’s explore the simplest method for unclogging a toilet with poop in it: removing the poop before doing anything else. It’s time to swallow your pride and put on your problem-solving cap.
Step 1: Gather Supplies
First, gather the supplies you’ll need to get started. Make sure you have:
- Latex or nitrile gloves that fit snugly
- A plastic grocery bag or zip-seal bag
- A toilet plunger
- Soap for hand-washing
Depending on the size of your vanity or medicine cabinet, you might already have some of these ready in your bathroom.
Pro tip: If you’re having trouble finding gloves, boxed hair dye typically comes with a pair to prevent staining your hands. Pilfer this set, and you’ll be ready to make quick work of your plumbing problems.
Step 2: Remove the Poop
Put on your trusty gloves, and make sure you have a plastic grocery bag or zip-seal bag as close to the toilet as possible to prevent dripping.
Consider using one hand to scoop the poop out and the other to hold the bag next to the toilet bowl.
Remove as much poop as you can. You’ll want to clear enough space to fit your plunger into the bowl and keep it as poop-free as reasonably possible.
Once you’ve removed all the poop, tie or zip up your plastic bag. Once you’re done with the unclogging process, deposit the poop bag directly into an outside garbage can or dumpster.
Step 3: Fill the Tank
Remove your gloves and lift the lid from your toilet tank. If you’ve already tried to flush the toilet with no luck, the tank might be empty, preventing a second strong flush, which you’ll need once you use the plunger to loosen up the rest of the clog.
To fill the toilet tank, press down gently on the fill valve. Water should begin to run, filling the tank with water.
Keep pressing until the water reaches the fill line, which you should spot on the side of the tank, and release the valve once the tank is full.
Step 4: Plunge the Toilet
Once you’ve removed the poop and filled up the tank, start plunging the bowl. Make sure to ensure as tight a seal as possible around the drain, and force the plunger up and down with as much pressure as you can.
For particularly tough clogs, mind the handle on your plunger. If it has a wooden handle, wrap a hand towel around it to prevent splinters as the handle moves against your palms.
Perform three to four strong plunges, then remove the plunger to check your progress. If there are bits of toilet paper floating up from the drain, you’ve begun to break up the clog.
Step 5: Flush the Toilet
Once you begin to see signs of clog breakage during plunging, remove the plunger and place it in the bathroom sink. It’s time for a test flush.
With the poop removed, the clog broken up with a plunger, and a strong flush from a full toilet tank, the toilet should flush as normal, and everything remaining in the bowl should wash away.
If not, repeat the filling, plunging, and flushing steps until the clog is gone.
Step 6: Clean Up
Once your toilet is clog-free, it’s time for a well-deserved cleanup.
Soap and hot water are crucial for removing any fecal traces from your hands, and since fecal matter can carry E. coli, take extra care to clean your hands, plunger, and toilet seat thoroughly.
Wipe up any drips with a hot and soapy washcloth. Once you’re ready to exit the bathroom, take the poop bag to an outside garbage can or dumpster to prevent odors—and hide your shame.
Things to Consider
Before you race for a baggie and the nearest plunger, keep the following tips in mind before unclogging your toilet with poop in it:
- If you use a plastic grocery bag as a poop receptacle, make sure that the bag is free of holes.
- If you don’t have any latex or nitrile gloves and there aren’t any boxes of hair dye in your house, use a kitchen ladle or measuring cup—that you’re willing to part with—to remove the poop from your toilet. Since this method will inevitably scoop up some water, put the poop in a plastic container—also one that you’re willing to part with—with a lid instead of a grocery or zip-seal bag.
- If you don’t have a plunger, you can force water into your toilet bowl drain with a large plastic juice bottle or milk jug.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Let’s explore some frequently asked questions about unclogging a toilet with poop in it. In this section, we’ll touch upon a slower method for removal—dissolving the poop.
How Do You Dissolve Poop in a Clogged Toilet?
Instead of donning gloves and scooping out the poop before plunging the toilet, you can use some basic chemistry to dissolve the poop first. Simply add equal parts vinegar and baking soda to the toilet bowl.
The effervescence from the chemical reaction will force air bubbles into the poop, breaking it up and, eventually, dissolving it. But, this process is slow, so if you’re trying to make quick work of the clog, skip this method and use your hands instead.
Will the Toilet Clogged with Poop Unclog Itself?
Unfortunately, a clogged toilet won’t unclog itself in a timely manner. If you’re willing to wait three to four days for the poop to slowly saturate and break down in the toilet bowl water then, by all means, shut the door, turn on the fan, and use your second bathroom in the meantime.
How Long Does Poop Take to Dissolve?
Poop does eventually dissolve, but the timeline depends upon a few factors:
- Water temperature – The poop in your toilet will dissolve more quickly if you pour boiling water into the toilet bowl.
- Chemical additives – If you add baking soda and vinegar to the toilet bowl, the poop will dissolve more quickly than it normally would in a toilet bowl.
- Poop consistency – Firmer poop will take longer to dissolve since it’s more densely packed, while loose stools will dissolve in less time.less time.
Can I Let a Clogged Toilet Sit Overnight?
While it won’t magically unclog itself, you’re more than welcome to let a clogged toilet sit overnight. If you have access to a second bathroom, putting off the unclogging process until tomorrow won’t hurt your toilet.
But, keep in mind that the poop will slightly dissolve in the toilet bowl, making it slightly more difficult to remove with your hands before you begin plunging. In general, it’s recommended that you handle clogs as soon as you can.
Will Bleach Unclog a Toilet?
Bleach is unlikely to unclog your toilet on its own. Household bleach is—usually—already diluted with water. Diluted bleach will become even more waterlogged once you add it to a toilet bowl full of water, reducing its decomposition rate.
Bleach is only for bathroom cleaning with extreme caution. Numerous bathroom cleaners—toilet bowl cleaner and glass cleaner in particular—contain ammonia, which can release chlorine gas when mixed with bleach. Even trace amounts of each substance can react to form chlorine gas, which is deadly when inhaled.
Video Walkthrough
So, How Do You Unclog a Toilet With Poop in It?
So there you have it—how to unclog a toilet with poop in it. Unclogging a toilet with poop in it is easiest when you remove the poop from the toilet first.
It gives you more space in the bowl for plunging, and your drain doesn’t have to contend with it while trying to flush the remainder of the clog.
But if you’re truly too sensitive to put on a pair of latex or nitrile gloves and remove the poop from the bowl, you can resort to a simple chemical reaction—baking soda plus vinegar—and pack your patience while you wait for the poop to dissolve.
Clearing a clog isn’t a glamorous job, but someone has to do it. If that someone is you, use the steps above for a hygienic, quick solution to unclogging a toilet with poop in it.