A clogged drain is never a nice thing to have to deal with. First, homeowners notice the water taking a little longer to drain in the kitchen sink or in the shower. Eventually, the nasty odors start to rise up, and suddenly, before you know it, the drain is totally clogged up. Cleaning the surface of the drain can only get you so far, you need to try and unclog your drain. Here are a few other ideas to try to unclog your drain before calling up a plumber.
The Home Remedy
As with most things around the home, there is a classic home remedy to try. Mixing up this solution helps homeowners to clear out their drains. It’s safe to use and it won’t do damage to your pipes, unlike certain commercial products. To make this solution, mix a third of a cup of baking soda with a third of a cup of vinegar. It’ll make a fizzy solution which you should pour right down the train. It can work to clear out dirt and hair, and you should leave it for an hour or longer to work its magic before running some hot water through and seeing if the drain has cleared up at all.
The Kettle
A classic and simple solution, simply boiling up some water in a kettle and pouring it down a drain is often the first port of call for people struggling with a clogged drain. Simply load up the kettle (or fill up a pan and put it to heat on the stove if you prefer) and then wait for the water to get up to boiling point. Start pouring it down into the drain, but do this slowly and in small amounts, letting the water work its way through and clear out any debris rather than simply dumping it all in and possibly causing more of a blockage than before.
A Wire Hanger
The wire hanger method is old fashioned, but it works wonders. All you need to do is take a regular wire hanger out of your closet and bend it round into a long, thin shape with a little hook at the end. At that point, all you have to do is ‘go fishing’. Except instead of pulling out fish, you’re going to be looking for hair and gunk. It’s not the prettiest or most pleasant job, but it can help with shower drains that have gotten clogged up with hair.
Salt and Soda
Another classic home remedy you might like to try is the salt and baking soda mix. Baking soda is always so useful for little tasks around the home, and it can work wonders on clogged drains too. To make this solution, measure out equal amounts of salt and baking soda. Most homeowners only need half a cup of each to get the job done. Pour the mixture down the drain and leave it for around 15 minutes. Then try rinsing it through with some hot or even boiling water. The water will activate the salt and soda, hopefully clearing out the gunk.
