Unclogging a toilet bowl is not your all-time favorite activity, but at least you don’t have to call in the plumber and break the bank. There are many ways to unclog a toilet using everyday household items, and one of them is salt.
You can use Epsom salt alone or combine it with other ingredients like baking soda to unclog the toilet. If you’re not dealing with a severe toilet blockage, salt is the simplest way to get over it.
In this post, we will explain how to do it.
Types of Salt You Can Use for Cleaning a Blocked Toilet
Salt comes in different forms, so we need to explain which are suitable for cleaning and unclogging your toilet bowl. Three types stand out:
Table Salt
Table salt – or sodium chloride – is the most common form of salt that you can find in most kitchens worldwide. It’s a multifunctional household item that serves the cleaning purpose as well.
The sole downside is that you have to pair it with other ingredients to get an efficient cleaner for a clogged toilet siphon jet. It’s the only way to get rid of the clogs and grime buildups that make your toilet look dirty.
Rock Salt
As the name suggests, this type of salt comes in mineral rocks that you might also have at home. It contains more minerals than iodized or table salt, which makes it a more powerful clog-breaking tool.
Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is a type of salt that contains magnesium, sulfate, and trace minerals. It’s not your average table salt but rather a stronger component that can successfully unclog a toilet and dissolve sturdy debris.
How to Unclog Your Toilet With Salt?
If you are in a hurry to clean a clogged toilet (and who isn’t?), remember that Epsom salt is the only type that works quickly. The other two types are suitable for overnight projects that don’t require your urgent reaction.
Unclogging With Epsom Salt
Not everyone has this product at home, so make sure to order a bag of Natural Epsom Salt on Amazon. You don’t need more than a cup or two of Epsom salt to unclog a toilet, which makes this 16 oz bag perfect for your DIY project.
The procedure is simple – pour one cup of salt into the toilet bowl and let it float for 15 minutes. You can notice the reaction immediately because water and magnesium sulfate together produce a funny bubbling sound.
After a while, you can press the flush handle and watch the toilet unclogging.
Unclogging a Toilet With Rock Salt
Rock salt also works alone, but it takes a lot longer to react. You will probably choose to pour it into the toilet in the evening, so it gets enough time to unclog your toilet. This is what you need to do:
- Grab a cup of rock salt
- Mix it with two gallons of hot water (avoid boiling water)
- Pour the liquid into the toilet bowl
- Leave it there for eight hours minimum
- Flush the toilet in the morning
The toilet should work as usual after this treatment. However, beware not to use boiling water as it may cause the porcelain to crack – the usual hot water from the tap will do the job much better.
Breaking Toilet Clogs With Table Salt
The third solution is to break a toilet clog using kitchen salt. In this case, you have to combine salt with other cleaning products such as baking soda.
The mix should contain one cup of salt and one cup of baking soda. Pour it into the toilet bowl and add 12 cups of hot water. Once again, remember to avoid boiling water for cleaning the toilet.
Now you can let the solution work overnight. You can flush the toilet to break the clog early in the morning, but we recommend taking the extra step. Namely, you can plunge the toilet before flushing to make sure that the clog is gone.
After all this, some baking soda might remain on the bottom of your toilet – pour a bucket of hot water to push it down the toilet drain.
Use Salt to Prevent Clogging
Salt is a great item for unclogging a toilet, but it’s much better to use it for prevention. All you need is to clean the toilet once a week – or even a month – using one of the three solutions we explained above.
Our advice is to go with kitchen salt and vinegar because you probably have them at home 365 days a year. The good thing about it is that you don’t have to wait for eight hours – the combination works in 10 minutes because it doesn’t have to break a clog.
It’s the same mix of salt and baking soda – add one cup of each and pour hot water over it. If you do it periodically, rest assured you will make a no-clog toilet.
Why Use Salt for Unclogging a Toilet?
We get this question a lot: Why should I use salt for unclogging a toilet with so many commercial products available? Well, we can give you at least three practical reasons to go with salt:
Salt Is Cheap
Salt is a widespread household product for two reasons – it makes an excellent spice, and it’s very affordable, especially when you buy it in bulk. Commercial products are not too costly, but they are much more expensive compared to salt.
It’s Available Around the Clock
Almost every home has a bag of salt, which means you can react instantly and unclog your toilet quickly. And when it comes to bathroom emergencies, you don’t want to wait until you purchase a commercial product.
Salt Pairs Well With Other Products
It’s also important to mention that salt pairs well with other household products, creating a natural cleaning solution. That includes items such as vinegar and baking soda, AKA products that you probably have in your home as well.
Salt Is Multifunctional
You can only use commercial toilet cleaners for one purpose, but that’s not the case with salt. Keep in mind that salt plays a primary role in the kitchen, where it helps you create delicious meals.
It’s Safe for the Environment
Salt is 100 percent natural and safe for the environment, so there’s no reason to worry about chemicals or unwanted side effects. You also don’t have to use gloves during the treatment, making it the best choice health-wise.
The Bottom Line
You probably use salt as a spice every day, but you can also use it as a reliable unclogging tool. So, how to break the toilet clog with salt?
There are different types of salt, and they all work differently:
- Epsom salt breaks the clogs alone and delivers in minutes
- Rock salt alone can unclog your toilet bowl, but it needs hours to work
- Table salt requires a mix with other ingredients, but it’s available 24/7
Salt will help you dissolve almost all sorts of toilet clogs, so make sure to test it before spending money on commercial products.
FAQ
Does salt help to unclog the toilet?
Yes, salt can help you to unclog your toilet bowl. Epsom salt will do it in 15 minutes, while rock salt and table salt require at least eight hours to work. In each case, you can break the clogs using salt.
What can you pour down a toilet to unclog it?
Besides salt, you can pour many products to unclog the toilet. That includes items such as baking soda and vinegar, commercial cleaners, and penetrating oils.