“A clog in the toilet trap or drainpipe is the most common reason a toilet won’t flush,” says Bux. “This can be due to excessive toilet paper, foreign objects, or waste buildup.

If it stays put, chances are the clog is in the toilet's internal trap or the waste line. That's the easiest type to remove with a plunger. Put on rubber gloves and lay towels on the floor ...

Clogged, jammed, blocked, backed up – however you say it – here's how to handle some common toilet mishaps without a plumber. Plus, the right way to use a plunger, when to call a pro and why ...