how to clear a clogged toilet

I learn new things here every day.

3 days ago, on Korea's Liberation Day, of all things I could do I clogged the toilet with too much toilet paper. Over here you ain't supposed to flush toilet paper down the system and I always abide by the rules ... when I am outdoors. When I'm in the comfort of my own home I, well, make myself at home.

So, yes, I clogged the toilet. The slow-draining type, whereby water (+ poop + toilet paper) goes all the way up to the dangerous limit of the rim, and then take forever to drain. And if you attempt to flush again, be prepared for your room to be flooded.

And it happened that when this happened, I was just getting ready to leave my home for school. So I left with a really heavy heart. What if the choke backs up and the toilet floods my room while I'm away? Should I call the landlord on a public holiday? Am I ready for him to deal with my unsanitary toilet mess?????

With all these in mind I went on the almight Internet to search for solutions. Most require a plunger, which I was ready to buy BUT didn't want to coz I try not to make unnecessary purchases, especially when I only have 3 weeks left here. Then I saw a solution which only require 2 things:

1. dishwasher soap
2. hot water. LOTS.

I was skeptical. Come on, unclog a toilet with just these? Even Ernie was skeptical. But I had nothing to lose, so once I got home I immediately poured about 1/4 cup of dishwasher soap into my toilet.

Now imagine dishwasher-liquid-tinted water + poop + toilet paper + tea leaves (oh I forgot to mention, these came out as well). Not exactly a pretty sight if you ask me.

I let this concoction sit for about 5 min, while contemplating how I should phrase my request to my landlord. "Mr. Kim, I'm so sorry to bother you on a public holiday, but my toilet's clogged ..."

THERE IS NO WAY TO SAY THIS WITHOUT LOSING MY KOREAN STREET CRED.

Should I risk my reputation? I even considered (seriously) going to the nearby restaurant to do my business if I were to wait till the following day. But what about the wee hours of the morning? What if I really need to use the toilet then?

Anyway, 5 min was up and I filled my pot with hot water from the tap. 3 pots and the vile concoction came up to the rim of the toilet bowl.

I stared at it in despair. 1 second, 2 seconds ... nothing happened. Everything was swimming around in blue-tinted water, like being in a swimming pool. Mr. Poop and his friends the Tea Leaves family having a wonderful hot spring vacation on Korea's Liberation Day while the boys from the Toilet Paper school practised synchronised swimming.

Lousy internet solution.

I walked away to put my pot on the shelf, and thought, oh well, I'll just let it drain slowly and then face the music (not to mention total, utter humiliation) of having to call my landlord to come and witness this ghastly sight. AND DO THE DIRTY (literally) DEED.

The humiliation was killing me!!!!!

THEN.

MAGIK HAPPENED.

As in the movies, a soft gurgle reverberated in my tiny toilet. As in the movies, I (almost) dropped my pot, turned my head in slo-mo, and to my amazement ...

THE SWIMMING POOL WAS GONE AND SO WERE THE REVELLERS.

The toilet sucked them all up mercilessly, and vomitted clean, clear fresh water again.

I couldn't believe it! So I flushed again, gingerly, totally expecting to have it stuck again but NO. Everything was back to normal. There was even a nice dishwasher smell in my toilet!

Ladies and gentlemen ... forget the plunger. Dishwasher soap and hot water, they are your best friends.

TL;DR: Toilet stuck. Used dishwasher soap and hot water. Problem solved.