My toilet is overflowing. What do I do right now?
By the Drain Guru team · Updated September 27, 2026
Quick answer
Lift the tank lid and push the flapper down to stop water entering the bowl, then turn the supply valve behind the toilet clockwise to close it. Don't flush again. Soak up the water, disinfect the floor, and then clear the clog with a flange plunger, toilet auger or air-pressure opener.
In the first 30 seconds
- Lift the tank lid and press the rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank closed. The flow into the bowl stops.
- Lift the float (ball or cup) so the tank stops refilling.
- Close the supply valve on the wall behind the toilet, turning clockwise.
Clean up safely
- Wear gloves. Toilet overflow water can carry bacteria.
- Soak up with old towels, then mop with a disinfectant.
- If water reached an outlet or went through the floor, turn off power to that area and check the ceiling below.
Then clear the clog
Once the bowl level drops, follow how to unclog a toilet. If the toilet overflows again when another fixture runs, the main line may be blocked.
More questions
Why won't my toilet stop running after it overflows?
The float may be stuck up or the flapper bent. Close the supply valve, then check the tank parts once the clog is cleared.
Related answers
General information only. Plumbing codes, prices and landlord-tenant laws vary by location. For gas, electrical, sewer-line or structural problems, contact a licensed professional.