April is here, and with it comes the best excuse to indulge in a little harmless fun – April Fool’s Day! This year, we’re flushing out the truth behind one of the most classic pranks of all time: the whoopee cushion. Yes, that delightful device responsible for generations of uncontrollable giggles and red-faced embarrassment. But did you ever wonder how such a marvel of flatulence fakery came to be? Let’s take a plunge into the surprisingly smelly history of this iconic gag.
Legend has it that the whoopee cushion’s earliest ancestor dates back to ancient Rome. The prank-loving Emperor Elagabalus supposedly instructed his staff to place inflated animal bladders under the cushions of unsuspecting dinner guests. Imagine the horror (or delight) as nobles in their finest togas suddenly became the life of the party with an unflattering sound effect!
Toilet Humour: A blocked toilet is not a laughing matter
What is it about toilet humour that’s so universally funny? Well, Psychologists argue it’s because it taps into our most basic human experiences. We’ve all had an embarrassing moment in the bathroom, right? So perhaps the whoopee cushion with its perfect blend of anticipation and shock, plays on this shared vulnerability giving us permission to laugh at ourselves.
But while the whoopee cushion might bring a giggle, a real blocked toilet is no laughing matter. Here’s why—and what you can do about it.
Why Do Toilets Get Blocked?
Toilets are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper—nothing more. When foreign objects or too much paper are introduced, things can quickly go wrong.
Common causes of toilet blockages:
- “Flushable” wipes that don’t break down easily
- Excessive toilet paper use
- Sanitary products, cotton pads, or nappies
- Kids’ toys or other non-flushable items
- Low-flow toilets that lack strong flush pressure
What Actually Happens in the Pipes?
- The buildup:
When non-dissolvable items or too much paper are flushed, they can lodge in the S-bend or further down the waste pipe. Toilet paper can bunch up and form a soggy plug, especially if it mixes with fats (from kitchen waste flushed through connected pipes) or wipes. - The blockage:
Waste and water back up behind the blockage, unable to pass through. If pressure builds up, water may rise in the bowl—or worse, overflow.
Quick DIY Guide: How to Unblock a Toilet
If you’ve got a slow-draining or completely blocked loo, here’s what to try before calling in the pros:
- Step 1: Stop flushing!
Repeated flushing can cause the bowl to overflow. - Step 2: Use a plunger
A flange plunger (specifically designed for toilets) works best. Create a tight seal around the drain and pump with a strong, rhythmic motion. You’re using suction and pressure to shift the blockage. - Step 3: Try a toilet auger (flexible plumbing snake)
This flexible tool can reach deeper into the pipe to break up or pull out a clog. - Step 4: Hot (not boiling) water and washing-up liquid
Pour a generous squirt of washing-up liquid into the bowl, followed by a bucket of hot water from waist height. The pressure and heat can help loosen the blockage.
The average toilet flush generates about 6–8 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure—not always enough to shift a solid plug. That’s why plunging, which uses manual force to create pressure waves can be more effective.
How Many Whoopee Cushions to Unblock a Toilet?
As it’s April Fool’s Day, we couldn’t resist exploring…
A standard whoopee cushion holds around 0.5 to 1 litre of air and produces a small burst of pressure when squeezed. Let’s say each squeeze delivers about 0.5 PSI (pounds per square inch) of pressure at best (and even that’s being generous—it’s designed to make noise, not move water!).
Now consider this:
- To effectively clear a minor toilet blockage, you’d need to generate at least 5–10 PSI of pressure at the clog site—ideally more if it’s stubborn or deeper in the pipe.
- That means, if each whoopee cushion gives 0.5 PSI, you’d need about 10 to 20 whoopee cushions working in perfect harmony just to match what a plunger can do.
- And let’s be honest… lining them up around the bowl and giving them a synchronised squeeze might make for a good comedy sketch, but it’s not exactly a practical plumbing method!
The Bottom Line?
You’d need a party’s worth of whoopee cushions, a lot of puff, and a whole lot of determination—and even then, your toilet would probably still be blocked. So our advice, stick with the plunger (or call a pro), and leave the whoopee cushions for harmless April Fool’s fun!
For all your drainage emergencies give us a call,
07788 254933 / 0800 849 8099
With Happy Drains, it’s always service with a smile!
Best
David & Will
