There is nothing worse than when your toilet clogs, is there? And it always seems to happen when you are short of time, don’t have the money for a plumber, or don’t have your plunger to hand.
And what do you do in these cases? If you are like us, we have a cheeky cry, moan about how unfortunate it is, and then attempt to rectify it ourselves. But when you don’t have a plunger to unclog your toilet, you are left with few options.
Do you shove your hand down and unclog a toilet with poop in it? Do you pay for an emergency plumber to fix the issue? Or, do you try the trend that’s set the internet on fire?
That’s right; we bet you have heard about it. People are using saran wrap to unblock their toilets. How do you ask? That’s what we are here to tell you!
So keep reading to find out how to unclog a toilet with saran wrap and never again feel helpless when disaster strikes!
What is saran wrap?
For those that need a little recap, let’s have one quickly before we get into unclogging your toilet! Saran wrap is a thin plastic film often used to seal and secure food to keep it fresh.
For example, it’s used to wrap sandwiches in lunch boxes or on pre-made food at stores to keep it fresh and prevent bacteria from entering it. It’s also used to cover fresh tattoos to protect them from the elements as they settle into the skin.
Also known as cling wrap, cling film or plastic wrap, it’s a staple in homes across the country, and we bet you have some lurking in your pantry or kitchen cupboards!
You can purchase it as a roll in a box with a built-in serrated edge that makes cutting and tearing the wrap easily.
It’s extremely affordable too and can be used to unclog your toilet. How? Keep reading; we will show you how to use saran wrap to unclog your toilet now.
How to unclog a toilet with saran wrap
Let’s get into what brought you here today: finding out how to unclog your toilet using saran wrap! Follow our five simple steps to unclog your toilet using a staple household item.
Before beginning: make sure you have enough saran wrap to cover your toilet. If possible, purchase the best quality saran wrap possible.
The better the quality and thicker it is, the more chance of success that you have! If needed, purchase an extra-large roll; you will want no gaps between your toilet seat and the wrap when carrying out this task.
Once you have done that, it’s time to unclog your toilet with saran wrap!
Step 1
Lift the toilet lid and seat up. If you need more room to work, you can remove the toilet seat completely, although it is not entirely necessary. Ensure that there is nothing around the toilet that will block your access to it.
Step 2
Take your saran wrap and wrap it over the toilet. You will want the open part completely covered in saran wrap. Ideally, take the wrap across the toilet and push it into place along the sides of the toilet.
Check that there are no holes or gaps between the saran wrap and the toilet. It’s not necessary to add a second layer, but you will need to put a fresh layer down if there are any gaps or holes.
If your saran wrap is not long enough to cover the whole toilet, you will want a few pieces to cover it. Again, it’s best to overlap these or push them together to ensure there is no chance of any air escaping; our goal here is to create an airtight seal!
Step 3
Once you have created an airtight seal, it’s time to start unclogging! Using your hands, push down on the plastic wrap. Pushing down forces the trapped air to push the water down into the clog.
Push down a few times and see if there are any changes. You might notice the water level lower or some of the clogged items moving down. The goal here is to push them down and through the pipes, unclogging the toilet as you go. Don’t panic if you don’t notice any changes yet; it can take a few attempts to unclog your toilet this way.
Step 4
After you have pushed on the saran wrap, it’s time to flush your toilet. The trapped air you have pushed down, and the power of your flush should unclog the toilet and restore it to its former glory.
If you have an eco or low flush setting, we recommend avoiding using that and opt for the full flush. It might take a few flushes, depending on how powerful your toilet is and how badly clogged it is.
It’s hard to give a definite number about how many times you will need to flush the toilet, but generally, it needs to be done more than once for a moderate blockage.
Step 5
Take a look and see if the toilet is still clogged. If it has been unclogged, the water should flush as normal. The water should not rise, and there should be no debris left. If the toilet still seems to be clogged, you can repeat the entire process.
You might need to replace the saran wrap if damaged while you were pushing down on it. If not, keep it on, push down and flush again! But if you’ve done all the hard work and there’s still a blockage, contact a plumber near you!
Final Thoughts
And that is how you unclog your toilet using saran wrap! Most people have seen positive results when doing it, eliminating the need to pay for a plumber or purchase a plunger.
However, for more severe blockages, you will likely need to repeat the procedure a few times.
Thankfully it’s so quick and easy to do that repeating it won’t take up too much of your day.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your saran wrap and get to work!