Use this guide when the toilet bowl fills up and drains slowly or not at all. Have rubber gloves, old towels, a bucket, a toilet plunger (the type with a flange) and ideally a toilet auger ready.
Step by step
Stop it overflowing
Do not flush again. If the water is near the rim, take the cistern lid off and push the flapper or flush valve down, or turn the isolation valve on the supply pipe a quarter turn to shut off the water. Lay towels around the base of the toilet.
Check whether it is only the toilet
Run a basin tap and the shower for a minute and watch for gurgling or rising water elsewhere. If other drains are also slow or an outside manhole is full, the blockage is further down and a plunger will not fix it. In a flat, ask neighbours whether they have the same problem.
Use the plunger properly
Fit the flange of the plunger into the outlet at the bottom of the bowl so it seals, with enough water to cover the rubber cup. Push down gently first to push the air out, then pump firmly up and down 10–15 times, keeping the seal. Pull away sharply and see whether the water level drops.
Try hot water and washing-up liquid
If the plunger has not worked, squeeze in a good amount of washing-up liquid and pour in a bucket of hot tap water, not boiling water, which can crack porcelain. Leave it for 20–30 minutes, then plunge again.
Use a toilet auger for stubborn blockages
Feed the protected end of a toilet auger into the outlet and turn the handle as you push, so the cable works round the bend. When you feel resistance, keep turning to break up or hook the blockage, then pull back slowly. Avoid wire coat hangers, which scratch the bowl.
Test and clean up
Turn the water back on, let the cistern refill and flush once while watching the level. Flush two or three more times to clear the pipe. Disinfect the plunger, auger, floor and gloves, and wash your hands well.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Rubber gloves and old towels
- Bucket for excess water
- Flanged toilet plunger
- Toilet auger (can be hired or bought cheaply)
- Washing-up liquid and hot tap water
- Know where the toilet isolation valve is
- Disinfectant for cleaning up afterwards
Practical tips
- Only flush toilet paper and human waste: wet wipes, even ones labelled flushable, are a common cause of blockages.
- Keep a plunger next to each toilet so you are not hunting for one during an emergency.
- Avoid pouring chemical drain cleaners into a blocked toilet, as they can splash back and make the job dangerous if you then need to plunge.
Common problems
The water level goes down but rises again on the next flush.
The blockage has only partly cleared, often with wipes or sanitary items further along the pipe. Use the toilet auger rather than the plunger, then flush with a bucket of water rather than the cistern to test before using the toilet normally.
Other drains are gurgling and an outside manhole is full.
The blockage is in the shared or main drain. If you rent, report it to your landlord in writing. Blockages in a shared sewer or lateral drain are usually the water company's responsibility, so contact them before paying a drain company.
Something solid like a toy or phone has gone down the toilet.
Stop flushing and do not plunge, as this can push it further in. Try to retrieve it with a gloved hand or auger; if you cannot, call a plumber, as the toilet may need to be lifted.
This guide gives general information, not personal legal, financial or medical advice. Rules and prices change, so check the current position with the official service before acting.
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