In the bathtub until someone needs to use it, the tub I mean, then it goes on the floor beside the toilet.

On the floor beside the toilet. Ours has a holder.

I rinse it well, during another flush, and put it in it's holder, which is stored besides the toilet.

Here is a link that might be useful: plunger holder

In the bathtub?

Ours are in holders by the toilets.

In a plastic bag in the half bathroom. If there is a problem in the main bath, I just shut the shut off valves off and go get the plunger.

Sue

We keep our plunger in the garage. We have seldom needed it but if we do we rinse the plunger in the toilet.

Plunger in the tub? Why?

I use a coffee can for holding it with the plastic lid on the bottom of the can. Sits in the corner at the back/behind the toilet.

In the cellar until we need it, which is, fortunately, rarely.

I, too, reacted to the post about storing the plunger in the tub! Do you not need the tub daily?

Ours sits between the vanity and stool. It came with a holder that completely covers the plunging part. You sit it in the holder and give it a turn to the right and the holder spins clockwise to close. Then you can't see the plunging part.

If you should need to use it you just turn the handle to the left and there it is, ready to go...

I've never heard of a plunger that comes with a "holder" and was amazed to see that such a product exits.

I keep the plunger in the basement with the other household tools. I've probably used a plunger two or three times in my life. Why would anyone keep it in the bathroom taking up space and looking so bad. If the plunger is needed so often would it not be better to fix the problem with the toilet?

I keep ours in the front bathroom. That's the one dh uses most. He would haul the plunger still dripping all the way back out to the garage (not necessarily dear at this task). YUCK!

That is why I bought the covered one, once I found it. :)

Moni

It get stored in the back of the broom closet, because it has only been used once in 5 years.
As I recall, I rinsed it, sprayed it with cleaner, rinsed it again, then cleaned the sink in which I cleaned it.

The problem usually isn't with the toilet, but with the person that uses it?

Sue

I keep the plunger in the garage.

In the garage. Can't remember the last time it was used.

I can't imagine putting it in the tub.

How about over the toilet? :)

Ours resides in a separate waste basket, all to itself. It's deep and dark inside so it's not really unsightly, it's hidden pretty well. And it gets used rarely, but when you do need one, you're better off having it close.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Under the sink, stored out of sight. Never did like keeping things like a plunger or toilet brush on display in the bathroom, even if it is in a holder.

Next to the toilet. Since we remodeled and had to install those new water saver toilets, it gets used way too often. What a joke!

Ours is in the garage... it hasn't been used in ages.
(at least 5 years...)

Mine is in the basement. Haven't had to use it for a long,long time.
Lois

Are some here confusing 'plungers' with 'bowl brushes'? I bet I've only used a plunger half a dozen times in my life -- and only for a clogged *sink*.

garage

Angelaid, I've heard lots of bad things about those water saver toilets and if it takes five flushes to get it to "work" then there is no real "water saving" going on. The water saver toilets are the law for new construction here. I sure hope 'bathroom plungers' don't have to become a new decorating feature for the modern 21st century bathroom.

Mine lives in the basement.

Ok ok, I'll explain why ours lives in the bathtub, part time. We have a very quirky toilet, no rhyme or reason to it plugging up. You NEVER flush and leave. Big mistake. If for some reason there is only an inch in the bottom, you better flush (clean) and be prepared to turn off the water and then plunge and flush. Hopefully when the water comes back on it will fill to the correct height and not overflow. Usually there isn't anything gross in there to deal with. We think it all started when the grandson flushed a washrag down rather than reaching in and getting it out. (He denies it but I have never found that washrag to this day and it's been about 5 years.) Like I said, quirky on occassions. When you do have to use the plunger, it gets rinsed in the tub and left to dry. The next person to SHOWER takes it out and sets it on the floor. If ya wanna soak, that's what the jaccuzi is for. Nobody in our household takes a bath and there isn't anything gross in the tub.

In its own plastic holder on the floor beside the toilet.

Pawsitive, this is what I meant by getting a toilet fixed rather than making a plunger part of the bathroom routine. If there is a washrag down there - get it out. I do understand that a plumber can be very expensive but in this case it should be worth the investment. If you don't get it fixed soon the problem is likely to get worse. Eventually you will have to deal with an expensive repair and why risk making the repair more expensive than it has to be by letting the problem go on so long that it gets worse and worse. For the time being I would just store the plunger in a coffee can or preferable something plastic and keep it next to the toilet.

Ours is in the holder in the back corner of the little space where the toilet is. DH used to use it at least once or twice a week. We had those wonderful water saving toilets. We finally broke down and replaced two of the toilets with the new high efficiency ones - the ads said they would flush 2 dozen golf balls or 12 linen table napkins, etc. I didn't believe it until we got the first one installed. THEY ARE WONDERFUL!! We replaced them about 2 years ago and I think DH has only had to plunge once.

If anyone considers my plunger "on display" they're snooping WAY too much. You want to look under and behind the toilet, you have a pretty dull life. I've known people who also use the handle to store extra toilet paper. Some think you shouldn't have toilet paper in a bathroom either but I've always thought a room should have items appropriate to it.

I forgot to mention I also put the bowl brush in the can with the plunger so the can does dual purpose. Occasionally change the can when it gets rusty. Been trying to find someone who uses Folgers to save (plastic) cans for me. For a while I put a plastic bag in the can to line it but don't bother anymore.

Thanks for the recommendation raggiemom, for the high efficiency toilets. That's good to know that they really do work like they advertise and I'll know if I ever have to shop for a new toilet. I know people do not like the water saver ones and scour places like ReStore for the older waster hog models to replace their broken ones.

In our city it's mandatory to use low-flush toilets in all new construction. There are several money incentives so people will replace their old toilets with the new water-savers.
They are horrible. Even "number 1" with toilet paper requires 2 flushes. Where are the savings?

Yes...those new water saving toilets are not what they are cracked up to be. If you have to use more than the two squares you see the "bears" advertise you have to flush more than once.

I have two water saving toilets and have plunged once in 5 years. I never have to flush twice.

We've only needed a plunger for sinks. Basement door is in the kitchen and I keep a plunger on the steps. Another one in the corner behind toilet upstairs.

We've had water-saver toilets for nine years. They're Kohlers. Have never needed to 'plunge'.

we have 4 water saver toilets that give us no ploblems at all..Toto is the brand.Never flush more than once.

I have an early era 1.6 gallon toilet and it requires a plunger most of the time if you deposit anything other than liquids. I rinse it in clean water in the toilet once I've unclogged the toilet and then it sits by the toilet kind of hidden by the wastebasket. I'm thinking about redoing my bathroom and though that toilet is the newest thing in there it will be the first thing to go - piece of crap - no pun intended.

Mine sits on the floor beside the toilet - seldom gets used, and when it does for the toilet, rarely, it gets cleaned carefully either with the hose at the barn in summer, or in the tub by the washer in winter .. with the tub then being carefully cleaned.

After using it in the sink, I rinse it and sit it back on the floor.

Hi pawsitive,

While I doubt that you have a snake/eel, if you ask around among friends, you may find someone who has and you could borrow it. It might well clear the washrag from its blockage in your waste line.

If some of you have used my Christmas gift - send to ask the local folks whose names you've stored there.

If you don't find one, it might be worthwhile to invest in one.

A lot cheaper than a plumber, if it works.

ole joyfoul ... frugal, as usual

Whether a water-saver toilet works depends entirely on the brand. We have two Totos that work perfectly, and I never use the plunger. Toto has an excellent reputation, as do other brands. You just have to make sure you don't buy one that's not up to the job.

I was reminded of this thread by a paragraph in today's Chicago Tribune 'Home' section. It said that a toilet may not flush properly if there's a 'blue tablet' in the tank. That changes the viscosity of the water -- makes it too 'thick' to move fast enough when the toilet is flushed. The article said to remove the tablet and clean any remaining 'blue-ing' off the walls of the tank.

We've had low flow (1.6 gal I think??) toilets in 4 houses since 1993. Except for one toilet (of 3) in our current house, we've very very rarely needed a plunger. Maybe the previous owners flushed something down the 1/2 bath toilet b/c that sucker plugs up very easily. Now that I think of it though, I've not had to plunge for quite a while. At least it doesn't overflow when it does plug up.

I keep my plunger in the plastic Folgers can (though with the handle-grip molded into the can the plunger doesn't fit as well as in the old metal ones). I cut an asterisk-like hole in the can lid so after use, the business end goes in the can, the lid fits down over the plunger head and I can pick up the plunger and take it back to its home in the nearby garage, drip-free.

Using septic safe TP helps too.

I can't imagine living knowing that something is clogging my toilet and not trying to fix the problem.

OJ is right about the snake. If there is something like a rag in the plumbing it is only a matter of time before a really really expensive visit from the plumber will be needed and possibly some expensive sewer repair. I kind of doubt it's the washrag after 5 years though. If the toilet itself isn't working then it needs to be replaced or repaired.

We have a 1.6 gal toilet in a room where the plumbing takes a sharp turn. Our old toilet had trouble flushing in there. The new one, American Champion elongated, flushes with so much power, it's startling. I really like it. It was highly rated by Consumer's Reports but it wasn't the best or the most pricey, either.

Mine has a holder as well.
After using and before returning to the holder, I pour bleach in the commode and rinse it thoroughly.
A simple water rinse will NOT properly clean a plunger.

I'm surprised to read that some folks seem to have to use their plungers regularly, or at least that it's not rare to do so.