You’re sitting on the toilet, minding your business. You finish, wipe, then confidently hit flush. But the water starts rising, and so does your heart rate. Congratulations—you’ve got yourself a clogged toilet! Resist urge to flush again and follow our lead. We’re self-acclaimed professionals at dealing with unclogging your toilet. It’s part of the job when you work for a toilet paper company.

1. Don’t Overdo It on the TP

We never thought we’d say it, but it is possible to use too much toilet paper. Sorry, boss! While regular rolls can easily clog things up, ours are biodegradable, so they break down as soon as they get wet. That makes them septic-safe. But even with our rolls, please don’t use an entire roll in one sitting. And if your “masterpiece” requires a truckload of TP, try flushing once before you wipe, then again after. You’re welcome!

2. Pull Out the Plunger

Oopsie, you made a poopsie. For a stubborn clog that won’t budge, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and bring out the trusty plunger. Think of it like an award ceremony—and the winner of the biggest flush fail goes to… you! First, place your plunger in the bowl and gently push down to expel any air. Beware of backsplash (we recommend goggles for this glamorous job). Once the plunger is sealed, pump it up and down a few times, then pull up the plunger to break the seal. Keep going until your pipes are clear. 

3. Get Shaking and Baking

No plunger? Guests arriving in 30 minutes? This sounds like a job for baking soda and vinegar. Not only are they non-toxic (big thumb s up from us) they are great at eliminating any toxic smells too. Because sometimes matches aren’t enough. Start by adding one cup of baking soda to your clogged toilet, wait a few minutes, then slowly pour in two cups of vinegar. Let the baking soda and vinegar get to know each other for a couple of minutes. Then flush and repeat until crap is no longer trapped.

4. Do the Dirty with Dish Soap 

Dish soap: it’s not just for dishes anymore. Not only can it clean your dishes and remove stubborn oil stains, but it’s also a lifesaver when it comes to unclogging toilets. Who knew? Just add a generous amount of dish soap and follow up with some extremely hot (but not boiling) water. It’ll soften up whatever’s causing the clog. No dish soap handy? Shampoo works in a pinch—plus, your toilet might end up silky smooth!

When All Else Fails, Call in the Pros

Time to get your plumber on speed dial. When your toilet paper backs your plumbing up, it can be a real issue. Make sure to follow these tips to avoid a nasty mess.