Quick answer
Stop flushing, then try washing-up liquid and hot tap water. Let it sit for a while, so the soap can help the blockage slip along the pipe. Do not use boiling water, since it can crack the pan. If the water level keeps rising, the blockage may sit in the drain, so stop and ask a drainage engineer through the request form.
Before you start
A few minutes of care now saves a messy floor later. Gather these items before you try anything.
- Rubber gloves and old towels for the floor
- A bucket of hot tap water, not boiling
- Washing-up liquid
- A toilet brush
Stop flushing at once. Each flush adds water to the bowl, so the bowl can overflow. Open a window too, since the smell can be strong.
Method 1: washing-up liquid and hot water
This is the gentlest fix, and it clears many simple blockages. It works best when toilet paper is the cause.
- Remove any extra water from the bowl with a cup or small jug
- Squeeze a good measure of washing-up liquid into the bowl
- Add hot tap water from about waist height
- Wait about half an hour while the soap works
- Try one flush
If the water drops and the flush works, you are done. If it only drops a little, repeat once. Then stop, since more attempts will only fill the bowl.
Method 2: a toilet brush or a toilet auger
A toilet brush can push a soft blockage through the bend. Press the head into the outlet at the bottom of the bowl and move it back and forth. Be gentle, since the pan is easy to scratch.
A toilet auger is a short, bendy rod with a handle. Shops sell and hire them. Feed the end into the outlet, turn the handle and let the tip break up or hook the blockage. Go slowly, since a rough push can scratch the china.
What not to do
Some quick fixes make the problem worse. Avoid the ones below, since they add risk.
- Boiling water. It can crack the pan.
- Strong chemical cleaners. Fumes and splashes can hurt you, and the product can sit in the pipe. Never mix two products.
- Repeat flushing. The bowl may overflow onto the floor.
- Anything sharp. It can scratch the china or damage the pipe.
If a cleaner is already in the bowl, tell the engineer. They need to know before they start work.
When it is not just the toilet
Sometimes the toilet is only where the problem shows up, while the real blockage sits further along the drain. Look for these signs.
- Other sinks, baths or showers drain slowly or gurgle
- A gully or manhole outside overflows
- Water rises in the bowl when you run a tap or a washing machine
- The blockage returns within days of clearing it
Several signs together point to the shared drain, so a plunger or a brush cannot reach it. Read our guide to the seven warning signs of a blocked drain to compare. If sewage comes up, read how to tell if a blocked drain is an emergency and mark your request urgent.
Some homes have a pumped toilet, often called a Saniflo. These blockages have different causes, because our guide to common Saniflo macerator faults explains. A toilet that blocks again and again is another case. Read why a toilet keeps blocking for the usual reasons.
What a drainage engineer may do
An engineer can clear the pipe with rods or with drain jetting. They may also suggest a CCTV drain survey when blockages keep coming back. You can read more on our blocked toilet page and our drain unblocking service page.
Precise Drainage Solutions gives £80 to £300 for minor to moderate blockages, and MyJobQuote puts the average at about £100. Complex or repeat jobs cost more. HomeServe quotes a higher average of about £386 for a private drain.
These are national figures, not Essex quotes. Read what drain unblocking costs to see why quotes differ.
Ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts. Also ask whether there is a call-out charge.
Toilet blockage help by town
If these tricks fail, the blockage may sit in the drain rather than the pan. Read about blocked drain help in Chelmsford or blocked drain help in Brentwood to see what to ask. Each page lists the checks to make.
A drain blockage may need rods or a jet, so drain unblocking in Braintree explains both. The blocked drains service page covers the usual causes, and all areas covered lists every town.
Related guides
- Blocked Drain Outside the House: What to Check First
- How to Prevent Blocked Kitchen Drains: A Complete Guide
- Drain Jetting vs Drain Rods: Which Method is Best?
- Blocked Drains in Billericay: Causes, Signs and What to Do
Frequently asked questions
Can I use boiling water to unblock a toilet?
No. Boiling water can crack the pan, so use hot tap water instead. Hot tap water works well with washing-up liquid.
Does bleach unblock a toilet?
It is not a good choice. Strong cleaners can splash and give off fumes, yet they rarely clear a solid blockage. Soap and hot water are still safer, so try them first.
How long should I wait before I flush again?
Give the soap and hot water about half an hour to work. Then try one flush only. If the bowl fills again, stop and ask for help.
When should I ask a drainage engineer for help?
Ask for help if several fixtures drain slowly, if water rises when you run another tap or if sewage comes up. The same applies if the toilet blocks again within days. Those signs point to the drain, not just the pan.