Clogged drains can be so aggravating. They always seem to occur at the worst times and are such a pain to fix. They are, however, quite common. There are quite a few home remedies that work very well. Most of the home remedies use safe products, but they are actually quite harmful to your pipes. We are going to look at some of the most common home remedies to clogged drains and how they affect your plumbing.

Coca-Cola

This is one of the most common solutions for tough clogs. Everyone has heard about sticking a nail in coke and watching it dissolve. Even though this is a bit of a stretch, it does contain very strong dissolving agents.

To use this method, you need to buy a 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola and it needs to be at room temperature when you use it. Pour it down the drain and let it sit for one to two hours and then you should run hot water down the drain.

Coke and Pepsi are loaded with phosphoric acid, which can break down build up which clogs your drains. This will remove lime scale and other tough build up that normal drain cleaners can’t do.

Plunger

If your bath or sink are clogged beyond what Coca-Cola or Pepsi can fix, it might be time to try something a little bit more aggressive. The plunger. This may be surprising to some of you, but yes, it can be used for clogs other than ones in the toilet. If your sink is clogged fill it about half-way and if it’s your bathtub fill about 4 to 5 inches.

This method can be very affective, but it can be quite messy, so be prepared. When using a plunger to unclog your sink or tub, make sure it is full of water. When it is full of air, there is no downward pressure when you go to use it. If it is full of water when you go to use it, the water will cause downward pressure when you thrust it.

How To’s of Plunging

  • Completely cover the drain with your plunger
  • Press and pull rapidly for about 35-40 seconds
  • If water starts draining slowly, add more water and plunge some more
  • If water starts draining rapidly, you’ve got the clog handled

Preventive Measures

There are a couple things that can be done ahead of getting a clog. Try letting hot water run down the drain at least once a week. This can help in preventing clog-causing build up on the inside of the pipes. You can also pour one cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then you should rinse with 2 quarts of very hot water. Another method is to pour an enzyme cleaner down the drain. A good, highly recommended one, is Earthworm Family Safe Drain Cleaner. Try doing this at least once a month. This can help prevent clogs before they even start to form. The enzymes in this cleaner help break down the build-up in drains.