How to Unclog a Toilet with Salt

Nobody wants to deal with clogged toilets. If you happen to experience this issue at home, we bet you’ll be willing to try all possible solutions to make the problem go away. A blocked toilet is not just a big headache but it also poses a huge sanitation concern. You certainly don’t want to deal with that.

What you really need to do is to find a reliable residential or commercial plumbing service provider to help you out. But what if the plumbers can’t come to your place until the following week? That’s when your dilemma starts. Do you know what’s a possible solution for this? Salt! Yes, you read that right. Read on to learn how to unclog a toilet with salt.

Ways on How to Unclog a Toilet with Salt

It’s interesting to know that simple salt can make your toilet woes go away. With the use of ordinary salt and a couple of neat handyman tricks, your clogged toilet will no longer be a problem. Just follow the steps and solutions that we have prepared for you below and you’ll be all set.

The Rock Salt Solution

If you happen to have some rock salt in your pantry, you’re in luck. But you’re going to need a lot of them to unclog your toilet. Rock salt comes in big chunks, unlike regular table salt which is finely crushed. Rock salt works because it contains minerals that could loosen up the toilet clog. Here’s how to unclog your toilet with rock salt:

Procedure:

• 1. Dissolve the rock salt in water. Make sure that the water is just hot and not boiling. Warm water may work but boiling water will cause the porcelain to crack.
• 2. Carefully pour the solution into the bowl. Seal off the toilet so nobody can use it.
• 3. Let it stand for at least 8 hours. If you have a busy household, it is best that you do this at night.
• 4. Flush after 8 hours or first thing in the morning.

Epsom Salt

If you happen to have Epsom salt, this one is going to be helpful in unclogging the toilet as well. Epsom salt contains sulfate, magnesium, and a lot of trace minerals that are going to be helpful. This stronger type of salt is also more potent in dissolving toilet debris. Here’s what you need:

Procedure:

• 1. Pour one cup of Epson salt into the bowl.
• 2. Leave it for 15 minutes. You should see some bubbling and maybe hear some weird sounds. That means the salt is reacting.
• 3. Flush. If the flush went all the way through without issues, then that solved the problem. You’re done. No need to do Step 4. Otherwise, continue.
• 4. Repeat the procedure with the remaining cup of Epsom salt.

Table Salt and Baking Soda

While you can always use regular table salt, you can add more to its potency if you put some baking soda in it. This is not an uncommon combination, as baking soda and table salt are used in many daily applications. Here’s how you can combine these two to make a powerful toilet bowl unclogging solution.

Procedure

• 1. Combine baking soda and table salt.
• 2. Put the solution resulting mixture in the toilet bowl.
• 3. Carefully add the hot water after.
• 4. Let the solution settle overnight.
• 5. Plunge the toilet in the morning.
• 6. Pour another 6 cups of hot water.
• 7. Flush until the toilet water goes smoothly all the way down.

Salt and White Vinegar

White vinegar is one of the most popular drain cleaning alternatives for toilets. You may try this method as well if you don’t have baking soda at home. Vinegar works because it has a lot of enzymes that can break debris. When lemon is added, the solution becomes even more potent. Some people even use bleach instead of vinegar.

However, you may have issues if foreign objects like toilet paper caused the clogged drain pipe. If that’s the case, then you’ll also need a toilet plunger and a drain snake to clear it.

Procedure

• 1. Combine vinegar and salt in a mixing bowl.
• 2. Stir until the salt has dissolved and the solution looks smooth.
• 3. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the solution. Stir some more.
• 4. Pour the solution into the bowl.
• 5. Let it sit for up to 30 minutes.
• 6. You may add more vinegar after to initiate more chemical reactions.
• 7. After 30 minutes, carefully pour hot water into the bowl.
• 8. Flush repeatedly until you see the water level go down fast.

Salt, Vinegar, and Baking Soda

If you want to up the potency of your drain unclogging solution, you can add baking soda to the solution as described above. For this step though, you won’t have to put in some lemon juice. It technically follows the same procedure, just this time, baking soda is included in the mix. This will easily free up your clogged toilet.

Procedure

• 1. Put salt and baking soda into the toilet bowl.
• 2. Heat the vinegar in the microwave or stove.
• 3. Carefully pour it into the bowl. You should see some reaction at this point, such as bubbling and gurgling sounds.
• 4. Leave it there for 30 minutes.
• 5. Pour hot water into the bowl.
• 6. Flush several times. Just make sure that the toilet tank is full of water each time you press the lever.

Salt, Vinegar, and Borax

You may also use Borax instead of baking soda. Borax is a popular drain cleaner that is just as acidic as baking soda, but a lot more potent. The procedure is almost the same, just replace baking soda with Borax. Also, you can use Epsom salt, if you have some, instead of regular table salt. Here’s how to do it:

Procedure

• 1. Put 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of Borax into the toilet bowl. If you’re using Epsom salt, you should see some fizz or bubbling reaction.
• 2. Pour 1 cup of vinegar.
• 3. Leave for 30 minutes.
• 4. Pour hot water.
• 5. Flush. If you’re still having problems, try to use a toilet snake and flush again.

Salt, Baking Soda, and Cream of Tartar

For this procedure, you can use ordinary salt because cream of tartar has the same abrasiveness as Epsom salt. Aside from unclogging the pipes, it can also get rid of pipe scales and scums. Here is the step-by-step guide for this solution:

Procedure

• 1. Combine salt and cream of tartar in a mixing bowl.
• 2. Pour the vinegar and then stir until the mixture is even and smooth.
• 3. Pour the resulting solution into the toilet bowl.
• 4. Leave it for an hour.
• 5. Pour hot water.
• 6. Flush.

Rock Salt and Dish Soap

Combining rock salt and dish detergent will not just unclog your toilet but also help clear pipes and drains. This is effective in clearing debris and removing grease as well. On their own, these two materials are great. Together, they’re indispensable. Since you’re using dish soap, you might as well get a toilet brush and do some cleaning while you’re at it. Some people make a bath bomb out of these ingredients.

Procedure

• 1. Dissolve a cup of rock salt in hot water.
• 2. Pour the solution into the bowl.
• 3. Add the dish soap.
• 4. Let it stand overnight.
• 5. Flush.

Unclogging Toilets with Salt

If you’re looking for an easy way to unclog your toilet, salt is what you need. With salt, you’ll find it easy to unclog toilet bowls. You’re free to use different types of salt, either on their own or with the other materials listed above. Try the simplest methods first then work your way down the list.

However, these solutions will only work if the clog in your toilet is caused by biodegradable waste, no foreign objects. So, be sure to set the right expectations. Salt is also effective in eliminating toxic gases and nasty smells. Its effects can reach the toilet drain and pipes too. Who knows, it may even be good for your water heater pipes.

If the problem in your toilet is caused by foreign objects, you would have to call the plumbers to get rid of them. You may schedule an emergency plumbing service if you’re allowed to do that for this kind of problem. Worse comes to worst, this issue may involve the septic tank too. In case you can’t get hold of a plumber fast enough, maybe a handyman can help you out with toilet repair in the meantime.