There’s nothing quite like the rising panic you feel when you flush and the water level starts climbing instead of draining. A blocked drain in your toilet is one of those household emergencies that demands immediate attention, particularly if it’s your only loo or you’ve got a house full of people.
The good news? Most toilet blockages can be sorted quickly with a few simple techniques. We’ll walk you through exactly how to unblock a toilet using methods that actually work, plus we’ll cover when it’s time to call in the experts at Tunnel Vision.
Learn five proven DIY methods to clear a blocked toilet using household items like hot water, dish soap, and baking soda
Understand when to stop DIY attempts and call licensed Perth plumbers to avoid damaging your plumbing system
Discover how to prevent future toilet blockages by educating household members and scheduling annual CCTV drain inspections
Understanding what causes toilet blockages helps you prevent them. Here in Perth, we see some specific patterns.
Too much toilet paper in low-flow cisterns
Modern water-saving toilets use less water per flush. That’s great for your bills and the environment, but it also means excess toilet paper can stall in the trap. If your household uses generous amounts of paper, try flushing twice rather than overloading a single flush.
Wet wipes and sanitary products
This is the big one. Wet wipes are behind approximately 75% of wastewater blockages across Australian water networks, costing utilities millions each year to clear. Even products labelled “flushable” don’t break down like toilet paper. The same goes for sanitary items, cotton buds, and baby wipes. They belong in the bin, not your toilet bowl.
Foreign objects and kids’ toys
Family suburbs like Baldivis and Ellenbrook know this one well. Small toys, toothbrushes, and other objects accidentally (or deliberately) dropped into the toilet can create stubborn blockages that won’t shift with plunging alone.
Tree root invasion
Perth’s sandy soils make it easy for tree roots to infiltrate older clay or earthenware pipes. Bottlebrush and ficus trees are particularly aggressive. Once roots breach your toilet drain, they create a catching point for paper and other materials.
Before you reach for the phone, try these proven techniques. According to WA Building and Energy guidelines, homeowners can legally clear blocked toilets with a plunger. Anything more complex requires a licensed plumber.
Not all plungers are created equal. A flange plunger (the one with an extended rubber cup) creates a better seal around the toilet drain opening than a standard sink plunger.
Position the plunger head to cover the drain hole completely. Push down gently to expel air, then pull up sharply to create suction. Repeat this push-pull motion 15-20 times. The goal is to force water through the blockage to break it up.
This gentle method works well for minor blockages caused by too much paper or human waste.
Squirt about half a cup of liquid dish soap or dishwashing liquid into the toilet bowl. The soap helps lubricate the blockage. Wait five minutes, then carefully pour a bucket of hot water from waist height. The force and temperature help break things up. Let it sit for half an hour before flushing.
Important: use hot water, not boiling. Boiling water can crack porcelain, particularly in older toilets.
If you don’t have dish soap handy, try this fizzy combination. Pour one cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl, followed by two cups of white vinegar. The chemical reaction creates pressure that can help dislodge blockages.
Cover the bowl with cling film if you want to contain the reaction and build more pressure. Wait 30 minutes, then flush with hot water.
A toilet auger is a specialised tool available from any hardware store. It’s designed specifically for toilets, with a protective sleeve that won’t scratch the porcelain.
Feed the cable into the drain, turning the handle clockwise as you push. When you hit resistance, keep turning to break up the blockage or hook it so you can pull it out. Keep the hook intact by working carefully.
For stubborn clogs, you can create water pressure using an empty plastic bottle. Fill a large bottle with warm water, place your thumb over the opening, position it at the drain hole, and squeeze hard. The concentrated force of water can sometimes shift blockages that plunging won’t budge.
Safety reminders: Always wear rubber gloves when attempting these methods. Put down old towels to protect your floor. If your toilet has a shut-off valve, turn off the water supply before you start to prevent overflow.
Don’t have a plunger? You’ve still got options.
The hot water and dish soap method mentioned above works brilliantly without any tools. The combination of heat, lubrication, and the force of water poured from height can clear many toilet blockages.
Some people swear by the cling film method: stretch film tightly over the toilet bowl rim, creating an airtight seal. Flush the toilet. As water fills the bowl, the film bulges upward. Push down on the bulge to create pressure that forces the blockage through.
Skip the bath bomb trend you might have seen on social media. Dropping bath bombs into a blocked toilet can actually make things worse. The ingredients can harden and create an even more stubborn clog.
Sometimes a clogged toilet signals a bigger problem in your plumbing system.
At Tunnel Vision, we don’t just plunge and hope. Our Perth plumbers use CCTV drain cameras to inspect your toilet drain and identify the exact cause. Tree roots? Collapsed pipe? Foreign object? We’ll know within minutes.
For severe blockages, we use high-pressure water jetting to clear the line completely. If we find structural damage, our no-dig pipe relining technology can repair pipes without excavating your bathroom floor or garden.
We’re available 24/7 because we know blocked drains don’t wait for business hours. As a locally owned Perth business with over 20 years of experience and plumbing licence PL 6905/8764, we service everywhere from Two Rocks to Mandurah.
Here are signs you need professional help:
Water backs up into your shower or other drains when you flush
The toilet repeatedly blocks despite clearing attempts
You hear gurgling sounds from other drains
Water drains very slowly even after treatment
You suspect a foreign object is lodged deep in the pipe
Once you’ve cleared the blockage, take steps to prevent it happening again.
Educate household members about the 3 Ps
Only three things should go down your toilet: pee, poo, and (toilet) paper. Everything else goes in the bin. Make this rule clear to everyone in your home, particularly kids.
Keep a quality flange plunger handy
Don’t wait until you need one. A good plunger is cheap insurance and can save you from a plumbing emergency.
Schedule annual CCTV drain camera inspections
If you live in an older home or have large trees on your property, preventive inspections catch problems before they become emergencies. We can spot root intrusion, pipe deterioration, or developing blockages early.
Consider RootX treatment
If tree roots are your problem, RootX is an environmentally friendly treatment that kills roots inside pipes without harming the tree. It’s far cheaper than repeated emergency call-outs.
Use your bin for non-flushable items
Keep a small bin with a lid in your bathroom for wipes, sanitary products, and other items. Make it easy for household members to do the right thing.
No, stick with hot water instead. Boiling water can crack porcelain, particularly in older toilets or during cold weather when the bowl is cold. Water that’s hot to touch but not boiling works just as well without the risk.
Bleach won’t actually clear a blockage. It’s a disinfectant, not a drain cleaner. More importantly, Perth’s older clay pipes can be damaged by harsh chemicals. Stick with gentler methods like hot water, dish soap, or baking soda and vinegar.
Costs vary depending on the cause and severity of the blockage. Simple blockages are typically resolved quickly, whilst issues requiring CCTV inspection or hydro-jetting take longer. Contact us for a transparent quote based on your specific situation.
Property owners are responsible for pipes up to the connection point with the main sewer. Water Corporation handles blockages in the main itself. If you’re unsure where the problem is, call Tunnel Vision first. Our CCTV cameras will pinpoint the location, and we’ll liaise with Water Corp if needed.
We aim for same-day attendance across the Perth metro area, with rapid response for genuine emergencies. Our 24/7 service means you can call 1800 631 799 any time, day or night, weekends and public holidays included.
Most blocked toilets respond well to simple DIY methods, but don’t let a stubborn blockage stress you out or risk damaging your plumbing system. Our experienced Perth team has the technology and expertise to diagnose and fix any toilet drain problem quickly and professionally.
Need that toilet cleared today? Call Tunnel Vision on 1800 631 799 or book online. We service all Perth suburbs 24/7 with transparent pricing and quality workmanship you can trust.
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Whether you require emergency response, scheduled maintenance, pipeline inspections or trenchless rehabilitation services, the Tunnel Vision team is ready to assist. Contact us today to discuss your project, request a quote or speak with our experienced team about the right solution for your site or property.
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