Children will play, and unfortunately, the toilet is an attractive place for young children to put their toys. If you have a clogged toilet and you suspect there is a toy blocking the way, there are a few things you can try before calling an emergency plumber. Read on for some tips and tricks.
Find out what's causing the blockage
Speak to your child and try and find out what toy is blocking the way. It may not be a toy after all; it could as easily be something your child found in the bathroom, such as a hairbrush or a bar of soap. Knowing what you are contending with will make the job easier.
Reach in
It's worth seeing if you can remove the obstruction by hand as a first step. Wear gloves if you prefer, and reach in and try and remove the offending item. Even if you can't remove it, it may help you ascertain what is causing the problem if your child was unable to tell you.
Plunge Away
If you haven't already tried this, give it a go as a lot of times plunging is all it takes to get rid of a blockage. Simply position the plunger at the hole, making sure the hole is fully covered. Plunge at a consistent pace, being vigorous but not too gung-ho; you don't want to damage the toilet. If this doesn't work, move on to the next step.
Reach for the snake
If you own a plumber's snake, a type of auger, give that a go. Plumber's snakes are great at helping dislodge objects that have become jammed, and this may be enough to deal with the problem.
Hire a pro
If you still have a blockage, it's time for the big guns. You could use a chemical de-clogger, but these can cause a lot of damage to your toilet if not used correctly. Instead, it's best to contact an emergency plumber who will be able to deal with your blockage quickly and efficiently.
Once your toilet has been unclogged, it's worth having a talk with your child about exactly what is allowed to go inside the toilet: human waste and toilet roll, and nothing else. If your child is too young to understand, you may want to keep a closer eye on them when they're playing in the toilet so you won't need to go through the headache of a toilet clogged by a toy ever again!
