# If Drano won't unclog a toilet, what (other than a plunger) will? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498 "2008-01-29T20:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/1 "2008-01-29T20:59:47Z")
I have a stopped-up toilet in my half-bath – near as I can figure, because some asstard guest flushed paper towels down it. I thought I had a plunger but I can’t find it. A bottle of Drano or Liquid Plumr always says, “Do not use on toilets.” Is there any other product I **can** use? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/2 "2008-01-29T21:01:21Z")
Get some long-sleeve rubber gloves and try and remove the blockage by hand. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/3 "2008-01-29T21:03:16Z")
And if that doesn’t work get yourself a [plumbers snake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumber's_snake) at your hardware store. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/4 "2008-01-29T21:03:58Z")
There’s a short snake meant specifically for toilets called a “Toilet auger” - it’s under $10 and you should be able to find one at any hardware store: [http://www.amazon.com/Gen-Wire-Spring-Toilet-Auger/dp/B000DZGJZW/ref=sr\_1\_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1201640578&sr=1-2](http://www.amazon.com/Gen-Wire-Spring-Toilet-Auger/dp/B000DZGJZW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1201640578&sr=1-2) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/5 "2008-01-29T21:10:33Z")
I own a toilet snake and it works. Mine only cost about $7 at Home Depot. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/6 "2008-01-29T21:15:20Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Is there any other product I **can** use? [/QUOTE] The shockwave from a detonating [M-80](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-80_(explosive)) might loosen the clog. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/7 "2008-01-29T21:17:02Z")
Funny you should mention this. One of ours got blocked, and my wife tried to fix it by pouring boiling water down it. She created a leak. When I replaced the wax seal, I discovered that the blockage had come from her dropping her car keys down it. ("Oh that’s where they went. :rolleyes: ) We’ve also had blockages from the sewer line being blocked. You can rent a big power snake, assuming you have a good access point, and clear it out. We found that doing this on our own was much cheaper (and more successful) than calling RotoRooter or the equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/8 "2008-01-29T21:50:09Z")
If you have to go out and buy something, why not buy a plunger? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/9 "2008-01-29T21:57:39Z")
Try the plunger first-I have the snake thing an ashamedly admit I have no idea how the damn thing works. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/10 "2008-01-29T22:46:06Z")
Does anybody know **why** you’re not supposed to pour Drano down a toilet? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/11 "2008-01-29T23:08:52Z")
Per the Drano website, the heat generated can damage the porcelain coating of the bowl or even crack it. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/12 "2008-01-29T23:12:47Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Does anybody know **why** you’re not supposed to pour Drano down a toilet? [/QUOTE] This sounds like a job for Mythbusters! \ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/13 "2008-01-29T23:17:48Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Per the Drano website, the heat generated can damage the porcelain coating of the bowl or even crack it. [/QUOTE] I wager it could melt the wax sealing ring, too. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/14 "2008-01-29T23:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Does anybody know **why** you’re not supposed to pour Drano down a toilet? [/QUOTE] IANAP and I’ll trust the Drano folks on the heat issues but another problem with drain cleaners in general is that if they don’t work (and all the plumbers I’ve heard from, here and elsewhere, say that the chemicals don’t generally do much for an existing clog although they can help prevent formation of clogs if used ahead of time), you now have a fixture full of standing water and drain cleaner. Plunging, opening up the trap (sinks) and other normal troubleshooting methods will then offer the possibility of sloshing caustic liquid all over the place. I’m sorry that I ever bought a bottle of drain cleaner. I have a good snake (drill powered), a couple of quality toilet plungers (splurge and buy the really expensive $6 model, not the cheap $3 one) and since I need to hit the hardware store anyhow I’m thinking that I’ll get a toilet auger while I’m there. Those are tools that are cheap and when you need them, you need them Right Now, not in an hour. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/15 "2008-01-30T00:06:37Z")
Drano and the like can produce heat and gases quickly. The toilet water can explode violently upward under some conditions. A sink does usually contain urea where as a toilet normally would. ---
**Author:** ![Lily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@Lily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lily)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/16 "2008-01-30T00:31:39Z")
Dish soap will unclog a toilet of any human made blockages. Put a couple good squirts in, let it sit for 20 minutes to let the soap dissolve the solids, and start in with the plunger. Works like a charm, even on my husband’s most dedicated efforts. You know, there were aspects of marriage I failed to consider before the wedding. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/17 "2008-01-30T00:38:58Z")
[QUOTE=Lily] Dish soap will unclog a toilet of any human made blockages. [/QUOTE] Including paper towels? [QUOTE=Lily] You know, there were aspects of marriage I failed to consider before the wedding. [/QUOTE] On such folly hangs the survival of the species. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/18 "2008-01-30T01:47:15Z")
Bleach is good at dissolving organics in a drain, but not for cellulose like paper fibers. I’d go with a plunger first, a drain snake second. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/19 "2008-01-30T02:48:14Z")
Liquid Plumber and the like are simply lye and bleach combined. Read the label and recognize that sodium hydroxide is lye (and potassium hydroxide is its half brother), and sodium hypochlorite is bleach. These are made to attack grease buildup/clogs. If your clog is caused by GI Joes, too much tp, car keys, etc, they will be next to or totally useless. Find a plunger that fits your bowl hole and get busy. I found one that has an accordion style head that’s very flexible and moldable. It shifted my clogs. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498/20 "2008-01-30T02:50:13Z")
Having recently replaced my upstairs drain pipes I can assure you that acid and cast sewer pipe are not the best of friends. There’s nothing like walking toward the back door on your way to work and seeing a tub full of water pour through the kitchen ceiling. Can you say 1" by 8" hole. I can. The only thing more fun than replacing all the pipes is the thrill of mating up drywall to lathe. After months of labor I can proudly say the house is restored to the condition it was before I invested $6 in drain cleaner. If you can’t plunge it or augur it then pull the toilet. If you think the clog is near the toilet then invest in a wax ring and your time. The only other cost would be the 4 bolts holding it down (often corroded). If it’s farther than you can get with a hand auger then rent a power one or get a plumber. Note, a large mechanical snake can mangle your hand if you don’t know what you’re doing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-drano-wont-unclog-a-toilet-what-other-than-a-plunger-will/435498.md?page=2)