Dealing with a clogged toilet is something no one enjoys, yet it’s a common household issue.

While plungers are the go-to tool for most, there’s a surprisingly simple alternative that can make unclogging much easier and less messy. This clever hack involves using something you likely already have in your kitchen — liquid dish soap.

To start, you won’t need any special equipment, not even a plunger. All you have to do is pour about half a cup of liquid dish soap directly into the toilet bowl. The soap helps break down any greasy residue and provides lubrication to ease the clog.

After pouring in the soap, it’s important to wait. Let the dish soap sit in the bowl for around 25 to 30 minutes. This gives it time to move down into the clog and begin loosening whatever is causing the blockage.

Next, carefully fill a bucket with hot water — not boiling, as that could crack the porcelain. Pour the hot water into the toilet bowl slowly, taking care not to overflow. The hot water, combined with the soap, helps further break up the clog and encourages it to move through the pipes.

If the clog remains, don’t worry. The process can be repeated until the blockage clears. While this method may not work on every type of clog, it’s a quick, inexpensive solution worth trying before calling a plumber or grabbing the plunger.