Assessing the Severity of the Clog

Unclogging a Toilet Clogged with Diarrhea: The Ultimate Guide

Having a toilet clogged with diarrhea can be an extremely unpleasant and inconvenient situation. As someone who has dealt with my fair share of home renovation projects and cleared all kinds of clogs over the years, believe me when I say that I understand how stressful and embarrassing this can be. But don‘t worry – with the right approach and supplies, you can get your toilet unclogged in no time.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through the process of assessing the clog, using the proper tools and methods to clear it, cleaning up afterwards, and preventing future clogs from happening again. With the right information and techniques, you can get your toilet flushing freely once more.

Table of Contents:

• Assessing the Severity of the Clog
• Preventing Clogs from Diarrhea
• Unclogging Methods
  • Using a Plunger
  • Using a Mechanical Snake/Auger
  • Using a Closet Auger
  • Chemical Drain Cleaners
    • Caustic Soda
    • Enzyme Cleaners
  • Home Remedies
    • Baking Soda and Vinegar
    • Dish Soap and Hot Water
• Calling a Professional Plumber
• How to Clean Up After Unclogging
• Preventing Future Clogs

Before you attempt to clear out the clog, it‘s important to assess the extent of the blockage so you know what you‘re dealing with. Here are a few ways to evaluate the clog:

• Check the water level – After flushing, see how high the water rises in the bowl. If it‘s an inch or two higher than normal, it indicates a partial clog. If the water rises nearly to the rim, that signals a severe and complete clog.

• Look for visible signs of clogging – Carefully peer down into the hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl and see if you can spot a clog. Solid waste or wads of toilet paper may be visible.

• Listen for gurgling sounds – Clear blockages often produce gurgling noises when flushing as water tries to drain through the clogged trap. No gurgling may signal a full clog.

• Check for overflows or backups – See if any water or waste is bubbling up from the toilet bowl, which indicates the drain is fully blocked.

• Smell for odors – A foul stench means decomposing waste is accumulating in the toilet, signaling a longstanding clog.

• Try test plunging – Attempt a few test plunges to see if you can dislodge the clog manually before using chemicals.

Evaluating these signs will allow you to judge whether it‘s a minor or major clog so you know how aggressively you need to tackle clearing it.

While occasional clogs from diarrhea may be inevitable, there are some proactive things you can do to avoid them in the first place:

• Avoid flushing paper products – Never flush paper towels, tissues, napkins or other paper down the toilet except toilet paper. These do not dissolve and quickly cause clogs.

• Use a fast-dissolving toilet paper – Choose a brand labeled as "septic safe" or "rapidly dissolving" so it breaks down quickly in water. Avoid luxury soft or quilted types.

• Trash non-flushable items – Sanitary products, dental floss, condoms, and other non-organic materials should be disposed of in the trash.

• Inspect your plumbing – Make sure your home‘s sewer and drain pipes are in good shape with no sagging or cracked sections that can catch debris.

• Limit fats and oils – Avoid pouring grease, fats and oils down your sinks or drains as these can stick to pipe walls and cause blockages.

• Use sink strainers – Place strainers in sinks to catch food scraps and particles before they wash down pipes.

• Consider a septic-safe toilet paper – If on a septic system, use a special toilet paper made for septic tanks.

If you‘ve assessed the clog and want to tackle clearing it yourself, here are the most effective methods and tools to use:

Using a Plunger

A plunger is typically the first DIY method to attempt since it‘s readily available in most homes. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Fill bowl with water – If no water is left in the bowl, fill it 1-2 inches deep using a bucket to give the plunger more power.

• Use a flanged force cup plunger – Choose this type over a flat sink plunger. Make sure the plunger is clean.

• Form a tight seal over drain – Firmly press the plunger over the hole at the bottom of the bowl to create suction.

• Plunge vigorously – Rapidly and forcefully plunge the toilet 5-10 times in quick succession. Really put some muscle into it!

• Check if clog cleared – Flush the toilet to see if the clog has been dislodged. You may need to repeat plunging several times.

The brute force of plunging is often enough to pop loose and push through simple clogs caused by wads of toilet paper or small amounts of waste. If plunging fails, it‘s time to bring out the big guns.

Using a Mechanical Snake/Auger

A mechanical drain snake or auger is the next go-to tool for clearing clogs yourself. Here‘s how to use one properly:

• Disconnect the tank from the bowl – This gives you direct access to the drain. Shut off the toilet‘s water supply as well.

• Insert the auger‘s end into the drain – Slowly twist the handle to work the corkscrew tip through the clog.

• Keep turning once resistance is felt – This pushes the auger through the blockage to break it up from the inside.

• Remove auger once clog is cleared – Twist auger backwards and pull it out once the clog is cleared.

• Reconnect the tank and turn water on – Your toilet should now flush freely. Use the auger again if needed.

A mechanical auger is able to reach clogs lodged deeply in the toilet trap and pipe several feet down. It provides the force needed for serious obstructions.

Using a Closet Auger

For extremely stubborn clogs, a closet auger (or toilet auger) has an extra-long snake that can extend much farther down the toilet pipe – up to 8-10 feet. To use:

• Disconnect the tank completely – This allows total access to the toilet bowl drain opening. Shut off the water.

• Insert the narrow auger end into the drain hole

• Crank the handle clockwise – Apply light downward pressure while cranking to work through the clog (about 3 feet down).

• Keep cranking once clog is reached – This pushes the snake through the blockage to break it up from the inside.

• Reverse direction to extract debris – This pulls any loosened gunk out so it can be flushed away.

The closet auger is the "go big or go home" of DIY drain unclogging tools thanks to its extended reach. It‘s perfect for tough clogs deep in the pipes.

If the physical force of plunging and augers isn‘t getting the job done, chemical drain cleaners offer another solution. There are two main types – caustic soda and enzyme cleaners:

Caustic Soda

Also known as lye or sodium hydroxide, caustic soda (NaOH) is an extremely potent chemical drain cleaner capable of dissolving even the most stubborn clogs. However, it must be used with EXTREME CAUTION:

• Wear gloves and eye protection – Caustic soda can cause severe burns if it touches skin or eyes, so cover up. Work in a well-ventilated area.

• Carefully follow product directions – Never exceed the recommended measured amount to pour down the drain. More is not better!

• Give it time to work – Let the caustic soda sit for at least 15 minutes to fully liquify the clog.

• Rinse thoroughly – Flush repeatedly with hot water to wash away all soda residue. It will eat through metal pipes if left.

While caustic soda is undeniably effective, it‘s also dangerous and destructive, so only use it as a very last resort after trying everything else. Safety first!

Enzyme Cleaners

Enzyme-based drain cleaners offer a gentler way to dissolve organic clogs like fats, oils, grease, food waste, and human waste. They contain enzymes that naturally break down these substances over time.

• Use as directed – Check label directions and only pour the recommended amount down the drain.

• Let soak for hours – Enzymes need time to work, so wait at least 30 minutes, ideally overnight.

• Flush remnants away – Run hot water and flush the toilet multiple times to wash away any remaining gunk.

• Use weekly/monthly – Enzymes are safe for pipes so can be used regularly to maintain drains.

The key with enzyme cleaners is patience – they work slower than caustic chemicals but are extremely effective and better for your plumbing in the long run.

If you want to try clearing the clog using household ingredients, here are a couple DIY methods that work surprisingly well:

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Combining baking soda‘s odor-absorbing power with vinegar‘s bubbly acidity can help dislodge clogs.

• Pour 1 cup baking soda into the toilet – Let sit for a few minutes to absorb odors.

• Follow with 2 cups vinegar – It will fizz and bubble as a chemical reaction occurs.

• Let mixture sit 5-10 minutes – This allows time for the fizzing and gases to penetrate and loosen the clog.

• Finish with hot water – Flush hot water to wash away any remaining debris.

It may take several rounds of this homemade cleaner, but it‘s very effective on light clogs, costs pennies, and is safe for pipes!

Dish Soap and Hot Water

Harnessing the grease-cutting power of dish soap combined with hot water is another DIY option:

• Squirt a generous amount of dish soap into the toilet – Really coat the inside rim and sides of the bowl.

• Let it soak for 5-10 minutes – This gives time for the soap to penetrate and lubricate the clog.

• Boil a pot of water on the stove – This is a key step, so don‘t skip it!

• Slowly (carefully) pour 2-3 gallons of hot water from a spouted kettle into the toilet bowl – The hot water provides the real "oomph" to melt and dissolve the clog.

• Flush normally – Send one big swoosh of hot, soapy water down the pipes.

It may take repeating the process a couple times for maximum power, but liquid dish soap combined with scalding hot water can be just the ticket for breaking up minor toilet clogs.

If you‘ve made an honest effort trying the methods above and the toilet still will not properly flush or drain, it‘s probably time to call in a professional plumber. Here‘s why it‘s worth the cost:

• Commercial hydro-jetting equipment – Plumbers have high-powered water jet blasters that scour pipes using water pressure up to 5000 PSI. This can shred even the most impacted diarrhea clogs.

• Camera pipe inspection – They can run cameras throughout the drain line to visually identify any underlying issues causing recurrent clogs, such as broken pipes, root blockages, or collapsed sections.

• Remove toilet – If needed, plumbers can detach the toilet from the floor for full access to snake drains from below. This lets them clear clogs beyond what you can reach from above.

• Main sewer line access – Plumbers can determine if the clog extends beyond your home‘s pipes out into the main sewer line, which requires city maintenance.

While there‘s no shame in admitting defeat and calling in reinforcements, the good news is approximately 80% of toilet clogs can be cleared using the DIY methods described in this guide. But if you do require professional help, rest assured these experts have the high-powered equipment needed to fully restore drainage.

Once you‘ve successfully cleared that troublesome clog, proper disinfection and cleaning is crucial to sanitize the toilet and bathroom. Here are the steps I recommend:

• Thoroughly disinfect the toilet bowl, seat, tank, lid, and base using Lysol or Clorox wipes or a spray cleaner. Scrub every surface to kill bacteria.

• Use a stiff toilet brush to manually scrub inside the bowl and trapway to remove any remaining fecal residue or film.

• Ventilate the bathroom by opening windows, turning on fans, and running an air purifier. Light matches or incense to overwhelm any lingering odors.

• Wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap after handling the clogged toilet. Consider showering to feel fully cleansed.

Proper sanitization removes health hazards in the bathroom and gets rid of unpleasant clog odors. Continue disinfecting the toilet periodically over the next week or two just to be safe.

To help avoid wrestling with future diarrhea-related toilet clogs, implement these precautions:

• Consult a doctor if you suffer frequent or prolonged bouts of diarrhea requiring medication or dietary changes to normalize stool.

• Flush immediately after use and keep the toilet lid closed between flushes to minimize odors escaping into the bathroom. For an extreme bout of diarrhea, you may need to flush multiple times.

• Don‘t use the toilet again until the clog has been fully cleared to prevent exacerbating the problem. Use a backup bathroom or bucket until unclogged.

• Install an inline toilet filter if you experience regular clogs, as these devices catch debris in a basket before it can enter pipes. Just empty the basket when needed.

• Use preventative drain cleaner monthly even if you don‘t have active clogs. Enzymes or bacteria keep the pipes clear and free flowing.

• Have a plumber inspect your pipes if you live in an older home. Replace any damaged sections or branches where clogs tend to get caught.

Vigilance goes a long way towards preventing future toilet trauma. But should an unexpected clog arise again, you now have all the tools and knowledge needed to tackle it head on!

I hope you found the information in this guide helpful for getting your toilet unclogged and back in working order. Don‘t be ashamed to ask for help if you need it. With the right techniques and some determination, you can get the job done quickly and have your bathroom back to normal before you know it. Here‘s to happy flushing!