What to do if the toilet is blocked

What you need:

• toilet brush
• Plump
• Drainage spiral
• long glove
• Wire clothes hangers (bent up)
• pipe cleaner

• First of all, think about why the toilet is blocked. Too much paper Bulky pieces of plastic? There are many reasons for this. Depending on the reason, some solutions are ineffective or simply not recommended.
• If there is too much paper, you shouldn't use the toilet brush. This only takes up the dissolved paper particles and is then difficult to clean.
• With plastic in Drain chemical agents do not help either. So keep your hands off it then.

With Pümpel & Co. against the clogged toilet

• The puddle actually only has one purpose: By “pumping” a negative pressure is created in the toilet, which pushes the blockage through the pipe with increased force and thus frees it again. To do this, you put the plunger in the narrowest part of the toilet so that it closes the area somewhat airtight. Then you start pumping.
• The toilet brush, on the other hand, tends to push the water away and thus dissolve the blockage. But it is always better to use the plunger first. After all, a plunger is easier to clean than the bristles of the brush.


Cleaning the drain - how to get rid of hair from the drain with home remedies

Even if you use a small sieve for the drain to catch hair, ...

• The drain spiral is a long wire with a crank on the end. The wire is inserted into the toilet and then moved back and forth with the crank. Due to the movement and its rough surface, this then usually dissolves the blockage. If necessary, a bent wire clothes hanger can also be used.
• The simplest, but perhaps also the most uncomfortable option for many, is to put on a long glove and look for the blockage in the toilet with your hand. Especially when it comes to broken glass or plastic parts, this is probably the most effective and fastest solution. If you don't have such a glove, put a plastic bag over your hand and arm.

Clean the toilet with chemicals

• You will find chemical detergents for clogged toilets in every supermarket. However, it is questionable how well these work and whether it is really necessary to use them at all.
• Most of the time, the cause of the blocked toilet is directly below the drain, i.e. only a few centimeters after the bend in the pipe. This place is easy to reach with all aids; chemical agents are more intended for deeper seated areas in the pipe.
• Apart from unnecessary additional costs, these also result in higher costs for water treatment systems in the area and are actually unnecessary pollution of the environment.

Additional author: Petra Krauser