How to Unclog a Toilet with a Wire Coat Hanger

Ndesho ThomasLast Updated: February 14, 2024

You have a clog in your toilet and no plunger, no auger/ snake, and no other way to unclog your drain. The next best thing you could use is a coat hanger. Yes! A coat hanger will act as a toilet snake which will enable you to reach into the drainpipe better than your hands would.

To use the hanger, just unravel the hanger from its original shape to a long line and insert it into the toilet then flush. You can leave the hooked part of the toilet so it can attach to any clogs in the drain making it easier for you to retrieve it.

This simple DIY unclogging technique is relatively cheap and can give you results in no time. Be careful though, because you’re using a wire coat hanger, you may damage the drain if you use too much force. To help you with how to safely and effectively use the hanger, here’s a step-by-step guide you can follow to achieve your desired results.

Contents show

Steps

Before we start, note that you can only use a wire coat hanger rather than plastic or wood because they can’t be unwound, nor will they be effective in the job.

Supplies Needed

  • Wire hanger
  • Rubber gloves
  • Rugs
  • Duct tape
  • Bucket
  • Household bleach
  • Disinfectant
Wire hanger
Hanger
  1. Start by unwinding the hanger from the top. Where the two ends were round together, take one side and open it up, followed by the other. You’re looking to get one long piece of wire.
  2. Leave the hooked part of the hanger so it’s inserted first.
  3. Wrap a small piece of the rug in the hooked part of the hanger. This is to prevent you from leaving scratches on the porcelain as you insert it.
  4. Secure the rug with duct tape. Or else, the rug will remain in the toilet causing an even bigger clog
  5. Now insert the wrapped end of your hanger into your toilet pipe and keep pushing it until you feel resistance. That’s probably your clog.
  6. Move and twist the hanger around while inside the drain pipe to dislodge the clog.
  7. Push it further into the drain until you see the water start to drain out of your toilet bowl.
  8. Flush the toilet to make sure the clog is resolved.

Tip:

To make this method even better, you can use a washing detergent and hot water. Simply add the detergent into the bowl and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Follow the instructions above to step six then pour the hot water into the bowl. Flush to make sure the clog is resolved.

How Effective is the Wire Method?

The use of a wire coat is very similar to the use of a toilet snake because it entails a wire getting into the drain either to push or extract a clog in the pipes.

This means it can be effective for clogs that are much deeper or further along the drain, than just being the trap way. It’s a much better method than using a plunger and other DIY methods.

However, the use of the wire can damage the porcelain or ceramic material used to make the toilet, also it can damage the pipe in the drain.

If the drain is made from weak plastic, too much force to get the wire into the drain can damage the integrity of the pipe to as much as bursting it. That is not something you want to happen.

Further Reading on Unclogging Toilets

Ndesho ThomasLast Updated: February 14, 2024
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