A clogged toilet is precisely a type of problem that occurs when you least expect it. It’s uncomfortable and it can lead to embarrassing situations if it occurs at someone else’s house. When faced with this situation, you might be wondering should you even do anything, or will toilet unclog itself?
Read on to find out.
Will Toilet Unclog Itself? 
The good news is – the toilet can nclog itself.
However, whether a toilet will unclog itself usually depends on what clogged it in the first place.
Whatever might be the case, there’s always something you can do to ease or completely solve the problem.
Let’s review some of the most common causes of this problem – this will give you insight into ways to solve them!
What Caused The Clogged Toilet?
The possibility of the toilet unclogging by itself is high if the materials that caused it are water-soluble. These are things easily degradable in water, like toilet paper or feces.
You can let the clogged toilet stay full for a couple of hours (without flushing). This will sometimes resolve the problem by itself.
However, say you find that your toilet still needs some help or the clog is already too big to stand.
In these types of cases, the problem is easily solved with simple processes like plunging, lubricating, or snaking.
If so, there’s still a possibility of these next causes:
- Too Much Toilet Paper
In normal circumstances, there isn’t a way of toilet paper clogging your toilet. It’s made out of soft materials which are meant to easily dissolve in the water.
Most adults know when too much toilet paper is just too much. If you need to use more toilet paper, it’s better to flush first, and then resume using more toilet paper.
Also, keep in mind that it’s important to teach the kids which amount of toilet paper is too much.
Toilet already clogged with toilet paper only gets worse when other waste piles up on top of the clog. That’s why it’s important to resolve the issue before you keep on flushing.
- Toilet Paper That Doesn’t Dissolve Well
Similar to the previous cause, there is also the toilet paper that simply doesn’t dissolve as well.
These types of products usually contain more than those with simple materials. They contain certain oils, fragrances, and even other materials that may not dissolve as well in water. [1]
They are also more costly! So – why not save up some money and also avoid creating a plumbing problem.
It’s best to choose an affordable, septic-safe toilet paper, or a biodegradable one. If it’s good for the environment, it’s probably good for you too.
- Low Water Flow
Low flow toilets are good for when you want to cut costs from the water bill.
But is it really worth it if the low water pressure isn’t strong enough to flush all the toilet paper?
This can lead to a clog forming multiple times, so it’s best to invest in one with stronger water pressure.
- Rough Pipes
The edges of the pipes may become rougher over time.
This means that the waste won’t go through the pipes just as easily. It will most probably latch onto the rough edges of pipes and create a clog.
This usually happens with older pipes.
As this cause is difficult to discern, try out some other solutions mentioned in this article first.
If nothing else works, it’s best to call the plumber to change the pipes.
- Hard water
Hard water build-up in pipes can also lead to improper toilet functioning.
All the water in your home is hard water, as it contains minerals. When those minerals calcify, they can create a white matter that is quite difficult to remove.
Fixing hard water buildup isn’t that hard. It’s only up to you to either opt for certain cleaning solutions or for replacing the pipes. [2]
What Items to Avoid Flushing Down the Toilet?
Some of the most common causes of clogged toilets happen when people flush things that shouldn’t be flushed.
It goes without saying,- the best way to avoid this is simply by not flushing these products down the toilet.
Let’s discuss some of these causes so you can solve them right away and also prevent future problems.
- Menstrual Products
Menstrual products such as pads or tampons should never be flushed down the toilet.
Why – you may ask? Because they are meant to absorb liquid, and they expand in water.
You should only flush things that dissolve in water. Safely dispose of pads or tampons in a bin to avoid blockages in the plumbing system.
There are, however, organic tampons available, and those are degradable. However, keep in mind that those take some time to dissolve, and you’ll have to deal with a toilet clog anyway.
- Baby Wipes
It’s important to keep in mind that most products marked as flushable are still not as flushable as toilet paper.
This means that baby wipes, diapers, and other flushable cotton products still leave a huge risk of a clog.
Sure, nothing might happen if you do it once. But do it often, and you might as well call a plumber every day!
Simply throw away these products in a bin to avoid creating future problems.
- Hair
In the short term, there might be nothing wrong with flushing hair down the toilet. However, long-term consequences to this do exist.
If you have rough pipes, hair can latch onto those rough edges and create a clog over time.
The worst part of all this is – this problem can get only worse, as hair doesn’t just dissolve as time passes. Simply avoid this by never flushing hair again.
- Paper Towels
Same as baby wipes, paper towels are not meant to be flushed as they expand in water and don’t dissolve.
Flushing paper towels can not only create a plumbing problem but be an environmental issue too.
Not only that, it can create a bad smell and a high water bill. So, avoid flushing paper towels at all costs – quite literally!
- Condoms
We hope you already know that you shouldn’t flush condoms, ever.
Condoms are made out of natural rubber, which is made out of latex. This, however, doesn’t mean condoms are biodegradable.
They will not dissolve in water. Therefore, safely dispose of them in a trash can and avoid clogging your toilet, as well as polluting the environment.
What Can You Do To Unclog a Toilet?
If the cause of your clogged toilet falls into the first category, there’s still a lot of hope for the toilet unclogging itself.
You can just make the clogged toilet sit full for a couple of hours, and it will unclog. Keep in mind this only works when the toilet is mildly clogged with degradable materials.
If the toilet is half-clogged, you can try flushing some hot water over it. If that doesn’t work, there are still some other methods to unclog it.
On the other hand, if the toilet is clogged for days, just stop flushing because it can overflow. Nobody wants to deal with the mess afterward!
Try plunging, snaking, or lubricating the toilet with chemical solutions made for that purpose. However, be careful not to overdo it!
To Sum Up
Next time you deal with the clogged toilet, you should face this problem without panic.
There are always some easy methods to try out when this uncomfortable situation occurs.
However, it’s best to prevent this problem in the first place, so you should avoid flushing the items mentioned in this article.
If all else fails, it might be time to call a plumber.
At least you’ll know what not to do next time!
Michael Davis is a heating & plumbing expert who currently works as independent contractor in SC. He also writes for Plumbertip.
For almost 10 years he worked on various plumbing tasks across South Carolina.
