Clogged toilet: how to unclog it safely

Stop flushing: the rest is easy.

The answer in 2 lines. Don't flush again: the bowl can overflow. Close the water supply valve behind the toilet. Wait for the water level to drop, then use a flange plunger, and if that doesn't work, a toilet auger. If the tub, shower or floor drain also backs up or gurgles, the clog is further down the line: stop using water and call your landlord, building management or a licensed plumber.

The first 3 steps

Don't flush again and turn off the supply valve behind or under the toilet (turn it clockwise).
Protect the floor with old towels, and put on rubber gloves.
Check other drains: if the tub, shower or sink backs up or gurgles too, the clog is in the shared drain line.

Stop: danger

If a chemical drain cleaner was poured in, don't plunge: splashes can burn skin and eyes. If it gets in eyes or is swallowed, rinse with water and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 for serious symptoms.
Sewage backing up from floor drains or into the basement: keep children and pets away, avoid contact, and don't use electrical outlets or appliances near standing water.

How to unclog it, step by step

Flange plunger (the one with a rubber sleeve underneath): seal it over the hole, push gently first, then pump firmly 10 to 15 times. Keep enough water in the bowl to cover the cup.
Hot (not boiling) water and dish soap can help soften a paper clog: wait 15 to 20 minutes.
Toilet auger (closet auger): a crank cable with a protective sleeve so it doesn't scratch the porcelain. Feed it in, crank, pull back.
Still clogged, or an object fell in: call a licensed plumber, or your landlord if you rent.

When it's not just the toilet

Several drains backing up at once usually means a clog in the building's drain or sewer line.
Renters: tell the landlord or building management right away.
New York City: if you suspect a sewer backup from the city's sewer, report it to 311. The city handles city sewers; the property owner handles the pipe from the building to the sewer.

What not to do

Mixing drain cleaners, or using them after another product: dangerous fumes.
Using a wire hanger: it scratches the bowl and rarely reaches the clog.

Good to know

Only toilet paper and human waste go in the toilet. Wipes, even labeled "flushable", paper towels, cotton swabs and menstrual products go in the trash: they don't break down like toilet paper and clog pipes and sewers.

In Philadelphia, Mike's toilet fills almost to the rim. He closes the valve behind it, waits 20 minutes and uses a flange plunger. The water drains. He then finds his kids have been flushing wipes, and puts a small trash can by the toilet.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on October 18, 2026, for the United States. Confidence: high for safety advice (MedlinePlus, Poison Control) and the wipes warning (US wastewater agencies); medium for who pays in a rental, which depends on the cause and the lease. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis or legal advice.