Flushing the toilet only to hear the dreaded sound of water swirling aimlessly in the toilet instead of heading down the trap leaves you with a feeling of dread. It is the unmistakable sound of a clogged toilet, taking the bowl out of commission until someone, you, fixes it.

Don’t panic though, just follow these simple clogged toilet solutions:

First: Before the water has a chance to surge over the edges, take the lid off and push down the flapper to close it. This prevents water from coming into the bowl, but it must be done quickly.

Second: A proper plunger needs to be used to go to work on the clog. The ideal type is called a ‘funnel-cup’ plunger because it creates an effective seal against the toilet trap opening. This plunger is easily recognizable by its narrow extension protruding from the larger cup.

Third: It helps to run hot water over the rubber of the plunger to make it more flexible and form a better seal.

Fourth: Once it is ready, be sure it is sealed tightly over the opening, and give as much emphasis to the backward pull as you do to pushing it down. » Read more: Taking Charge of Unclogging the Toilet