Buy the highest-quality plunger you can.

I happened upon an interesting blog post today. A home repair, a fairly common act of maintenance, almost resulted in domestic violence. Unfortunately we have become an angry society. With the stress of the holiday Father's Day looming, I would like to offer a tutorial that might help avoid tension and stress in a similar situation. I won't link to the blog in question as it did appear that a violent incident was barely avoided.

A clogged toilet often can be cleared in a few simple steps. Give these a try before you call in the pros. It should be obvious, but if you think your toilet is blocked, don't use it until the blockage is cleared.

Step One: If it's not flushing the first time, don't flush again. Sometimes pouring a bucket of cold water into the toilet is all that's needed, especially if you notice it's pretty full & likely to clog. Pour quickly, but not so fast that it roils up over the top. Don't fill it over the bottom of the rim in case you have to plunge again.

Step Two: Make sure the water supply to the toilet is "off." It should be located right behind the toilet; it looks like a regular faucet knob. Do not shut off the supply for the house, since this will prevent others from using water. If the water is off to at least the toilet, this will prevent the bathroom from flooding.

Step Three: (optional) Place some old towels or blankets on the floor around the toilet, (no matter how careful you are, some water will likely splash onto the floor).

Step Four: Insert the plunger into the toilet, making sure the rubber globe or cup is fully seated over the drain opening and covered with water.

Step Five: Push the plunger handle down with firm strokes. Increase pressure on the clog by pushing and releasing the plunger 10 to 15 times. Rough, careless plunging can damage the toilet bowl. If the clog isn't too tight, these bursts of increased water pressure caused by the plunger will probably clear the obstruction. You should hear a hollow sound indicating that the line is cleared.

Step Six: Attack tougher problems with a toilet auger (similar to a plumber's snake but covered in a plastic sheath to protect the toilet bowl from scratches). Lost toys, tubes of makeup and stubborn clogs will all probably require an auger.

Step Seven: Flush the toilet when you think the clog has moved. As a precaution, have the toilet tank lid off and be ready to stop the water flow by raising the ball in the toilet tank, or be ready to shut the water to the toilet of again.

Buy the highest-quality plunger you can. If the plunger or the auger doesn't remove the clog, you options are to call in the pros or remove the toilet yourself and manually remove the blockage. Be very cautious about using a chemical drain cleaner/opener in a clogged toilet. They are caustic and can cause chemical burns to the eyes or skin. Make sure that any product used is specifically marked as safe for use with porcelain, and follow the manufacturer's directions exactly. Never mix any of these chemical agents, as dangerous reactions could occur. Never attempt to plunge a toilet after you have put drain cleaner in the bowl.

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The creature, called Swamp Thing, was originally conceived as Alec Holland mutating into a vegetable-like creature, a "muck-encrusted mockery of a man". However, under writer Alan Moore, Swamp Thing was reinvented as an elemental entity created upon the death of Alec Holland, with Holland's memory and personality intact. He is described as "a plant that thought it was Alec Holland, a plant that was trying its level best to be Alec Holland."

Alan Moore's Swamp Thing had a profound effect on mainstream comic books, being the first horror comic to approach the genre from a literary point of view since the EC horror comics of the 1950's, and broadened the scope of the series to include ecological and spiritual concerns while retaining its horror-fantasy roots.

Waldo County, situated in mid-coast Maine along scenic Penobscot Bay, has genuine New England character evidenced by working port towns and quaint rural villages. Visitors are awed by the area's unspoiled beauty. From striking coastal views to sweeping mountain vistas, dramatic natural settings abound. In addition great care has been taken to preserve and refurbish numerous historic landmarks, homes and buildings. Consequently, the Maine of yesteryear is still found here.

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