Situating your plunger is the most important part! If you don’t create a seal, your plunger won’t be able to remove the blockage. If you have a normal or standard plunger, that’s fine too. You may have to put a little extra force into your plunging motion, though.

This will keep the flange, or the long rubber center of the plunger, going straight down into the hole of the toilet.

This is also called “burping” the plunger. Don’t be gentle as you plunge! The more force you put into it, the better the plunger will work. If you accidentally break the airtight seal, that’s okay. Just situate the plunger back over the hole in the toilet and start again.

If the plunger didn’t unclog the toilet, you can try it again. If your toilet is still clogged after a couple attempts, you can try using dish soap and hot water or baking soda and vinegar to break up a tough clog.

If you don’t clog the drainage hole, the plunger won’t be effective since it can’t create an airtight seal. Bathroom sinks usually have drainage holes. Showers and kitchen sinks probably don’t.

If you’re worried about water overflow, put a few towels or rags down around the sink or the tub.

Holding the plunger at an angle could break the seal, so it’s important to keep the wooden handle pointing straight up at the ceiling.

Be careful not to lift the rubber part of the plunger off the drain, which will break the airtight seal. If you do, just situate it over the drain again and keep plunging.

If you’ve used your plunger on a toilet before, make sure you disinfect your sink or shower with bleach once you’re done. If the drain is still clogged, you may need to use a snake to break up tough clogs.

Large amounts of toilet paper can also clog your toilet, so go easy on how much you use at one time.

You can also pour boiling water down your drains every other week to flush them out and keep them clear of debris. Use a wet/dry vacuum hose on drains to suck out any hair or debris that may be stuck inside the drain. [12] X Expert Source James SchuelkeProfessional Plumber Expert Interview. 1 October 2019.

Clean the screens every one to two days to keep water flowing properly down the drain. For the shower, use a plastic hair catcher.