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If you’re looking for the best plungers for your toilet, tub or shower drain, check out our thoroughly researched list. We’ve compared specs and reviews to bring out the best and save you from throwing time and money down the drain. In making our selection we looked at durability, material quality, suction element size and ease of cleaning and value for the money. When it comes to the cleanliness of your kitchen or bathroom, this is one of the key bathroom essentials to purchase.
Our top pick, the Neiko 60166A is a heavy duty graduated suction design with an aluminum handle so it’s easier to keep clean and harbors less bacteria than a wooden handled plunger. Read on for more of our top picks.
Award: Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: Graduated, all-angle suction for a tight seal in all kinds of toilet opening shapes makes this handy toilet plunger more effective and easier to use.
Simple but thoughtfully designed, this aluminum and rubber plunger from Neiko is just under 24” tall, which most find to be a convenient size, giving a good balance between leverage and precision. The Neiko toilet plunger benefits from a graduated suction cup with four different size steps, letting it acquire a tight seal in a broad range of toilet openings.
Thanks to its suction cup design, this plunger also avoids the common toilet plunger pitfall of turning inside out after plunging. A smooth inner surface helps keep the plunger rim from filling up with toilet water and lets it stay clean longer. While we are on the subject of toilets, the best toilet bowl cleaner will keep things clean and flowing smoothly.
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: Affordable and well designed, this plunger and toilet brush set comes with its own caddy that helps keep your bathroom floor clean.
A good value, this bathroom cleaning set includes a durable plastic and rubber plunger along with a toilet bowl brush and a two-place caddy. The caddy helps you keep your floor clean and stores the toilet brush and plunger more unobtrusively than just hanging them up or putting them on the floor. The handles are made of smooth plastic and the plunger suction cup is pliable rubber, making it easy to clean.
While the plunger gets good ratings for durability and effectiveness, some may find its 12.5-inch handle a little too short for their liking. The best toilet brush is another must-have toilet accessory for your home that you can’t live without.
Award: Best for Elongated Toilets
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Korky Universal plunger has an ergonomic t-shaped handle for easier plunging, along with a suction cup shape designed to fit old and new low flow toilets.
The Korky Universal plunger is designed to fit elongated toilets along with old and new low flow toilets as well as standard “round” toilet bowl openings. It features a beehive-shaped rubber suction element that’s more flexible than found on the typical cup shaped plunger. This lets it work just as well in the challenging, odd shaped outlets of low flow toilets.
The Korky toilet plunger, as seen on This Old House and elsewhere, is American-made and has a solid reputation for reliability. The handle is a little shorter than some may prefer, at just under 16”, but it does have an ergonomic T-shape which makes the work of plunging a little easier. Speaking of easier, keep your TP in reach with the best toilet paper holder.
Award: Best Design
WHY WE LIKE IT: This well designed Simplehuman toilet plunger comes with a clever “bandshell” style holder that lets you hide your plunger in plain sight and reduces drips and spills.
While it’s seldom the case that you’re tempted to think of a toilet plunger as “elegant,” the design of this hideaway simplehuman toilet plunger/caddy combo may change your mind. The plunger cover has a magnetic collar that securely grips the plunger’s stainless steel handle so you can stow it away without having to touch the cover itself, and you can transport the plunger and cover as one piece, saving your bathroom floor from drips and cutting down on your cleaning tasks.
The plunger itself is comfortable to use, with a generous 23-inch handle. The rubber suction element is rated well for durability though some users note it may not fit in all low flow or elongated toilets. Speaking of bathroom accessories, check out the best lighted makeup mirror for the best view you will ever have while grooming.
Award: Best Stainless Steel
WHY WE LIKE IT: Just like our #4 pick, this cleverly designed toilet plunger can be hidden in plain sight and carried around without drips. Depending on your bathroom decor scheme, you may prefer it in black or white.
Like the Simplehuman plunger in white, the design of this black and silver hideaway simplehuman toilet plunger/ caddy combo may make you consider a toilet plunger to be a decor item. The plunger cover has a magnetic collar that securely grips the plunger’s stainless steel handle so you can stow it away without having to touch the cover itself, and you can transport the plunger and cover as one piece, saving your bathroom floor from drips and cutting down on your cleaning tasks.
The plunger itself is comfortable to use, with a generous 23-inch handle. The rubber suction element is rated well for durability though some users note it may not fit in all low flow or elongated toilets. Now when it comes to fixing other parts of the bathroom, replacing the best shower curtain is easy and we can help with that too.
Award: Easiest to Store
WHY WE LIKE IT: A hideaway canister with built-in drying tray makes this one of the most convenient and easy to store plungers on the market.
This Good Grips toilet plunger comes with an innovative clamshell style holder that includes a drying tray so that any water left on the plunger evaporates more quickly, making it easier to clean. The holder keeps the plunger itself out of sight and is constructed of the same plastic as the handle. This storage solution is great for smaller bathrooms.
The plunger is comfortable and easy to use, thanks to a good sized 23.8-inch handle with a broad, flat top. The suction cup isn’t very stiff, which can be a benefit or a drawback. It doesn’t take much muscle to use, however it also doesn’t spring back into shape as easily as a stiffer suction cup. Do you want to know more about hydrogen peroxide for home use? Read our guide on the best hydrogen peroxide solution.
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Award: Best Quality
WHY WE LIKE IT: This toilet brush and plunger combo comes with a two place steel holder that keeps both brush and plunger out of sight, making it great for larger bathrooms with a “modern” design theme.
This toilet plunger and brush combo is distinguished by its convenient included side-by-side holders. Finished in stainless steel to match the plunger and brush handle, they make these essential bathroom cleaning items unobtrusive and even contribute to a clean looking bathroom.
The plunger itself is about 18” including the handle, a bit shorter than our top choices which tend to be around 24” and this might make it harder to use for some. However, the rubber suction element provides good suction force and is even replaceable, for a longer-lasting product overall. Those with less ventilated and more humid bathrooms may want to de-rust the handles. On another note, if you want to have the perfect shave, remember to get the best shaving brush.
In order to narrow down the best toilet plungers on the market we looked at functionality, ease of cleaning and durability. We only included plungers that fit a range of toilet types including modern standard and older fixtures, and being able to fit elongated toilet bowl openings was considered a useful bonus. Make sure, if you have an elongated toilet, to check that the plunger you buy fits.
We looked at plungers that were at least 16” long including handles, so that you get decent leverage during use. We also considered only those with metal, painted wood or plastic handles, since untreated wood plunger handles harbor more bacteria.
While not an absolute requirement, we did give preference to toilet plungers with included holders or caddies, giving you a convenient way of storing the plunger out of sight.
