Cleaning toilet bowls is one thing, dealing with a clogged one can be a nightmare. Have you ever had a clogged bowl or tank once? I hope you haven’t experienced an overflowing toilet bowl. Just in case you don’t flush down any other stuff down there, you know what’s clogging it. In any case, here are some maintenance tips for you and your family throne.

One of the things that can damage a toilet’s mechanism (which is almost always found in the tank) are harsh in-tank bowl cleaners. Strong bleach can damage those finer parts of the mechanism and will cause your toilet to fail. So read labels first and avoid tank cleaners with strong bleach.

Many swear by placing a brick in the tank to help you save gallons a month. However, bricks can corrode over time in the filling and flushing routine. Brick particles can also damage or clog up your system. So before placing a brick in there, seal it first. One way would be to bind it with shrink-wrap to waterproof it. In addition, place it somewhere where it doesn’t interfere with any parts of the mechanism.

Don’t you try to flush a clogged toilet especially when the water level’s too low. Chances are it’ll just fill up and overflow. You don’t want that. No one wants that. What you should do instead is to bring out the trusty plunger. Just be sure to have enough water to cover the rubber suction cup. If you don’t pour some water to cover it. It’d help the suction. Just pump away until the clog frees up. If the clog still remains, it’s time to try another implement – the plumber’s snake. Just slide it in and turn the handle on one direction as if drilling your way into the clog.

In any case, as with other household emergencies, call the expert – a real plumber to handle it for you. At least you can’t say that you didn’t try.