Clogged drains come with the promise of something wet, slimy, and equally foul-smelling. Doesn’t really sound appealing now, does it? Even thinking about it is enough to create a shudder in our hearts. But then again, this is a reality that you will have to come face to face with one time or another, especially if you own a house.
Thankfully, there are a few ways using which you can troubleshoot the issue in the most efficient manner possible. The best way to unblock your drain is, of course, to use a drain cleaner. But, we have also compiled a list of the top three effective home remedies that you can employ below.
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What causes clogged drains?
Before you get started with the remedies to unclog your drain, it will do you good to understand the reason behind the blockage. There can be many causes of clogged drains ranging from foreign objects to a heavy buildup of certain things like hair, soap, grease and so on – there really is an unending list of ways in which your drains can get clogged.
Hair Buildup
This is perhaps one of the most visible causes of clogged drains. Human beings have a natural tendency to shed hair whenever they are taking showers or doing other maintenance activities. It’s always wiser to prevent hair accumulation over time in order to prevent any long-term damage to your drain. If we are not vigilant enough to remove the hair periodically, not only will the result be a wet mass of a lot of hair, it can also considerably reduce the longevity of your drain.Â
Food and Grease Buildup
The drain in question here is, of course, your kitchen sink that suffers the daily abuse of food, grease, and other items. In the case of grease, for example, it can stick to the drainpipe walls drastically reducing the amount of water that can run through the drain.
Even other food items can cause drain clogging. Try to make sure that all vegetable waste and leftover food is thrown in the waste bin to prevent any blocking. Make this a rule that has to be followed by everyone in the family.Â
Soap Buildup
The soap and shampoo from our showers, laundry, or bathrooms can be another major reason for clogging. Facing a consistent flow of soap, drains can become blocked due to a gradual reduction in the drainpipe diameter that is caused by this buildup.
Foreign Objects
If you have kids in your house, this is probably going to be the main reason why your drains clog most of the time. Foreign objects can be your toddler throwing in their toys in the drain or you accidentally dropping any daily use items to name a few.
Tips to help you get rid of clogged drains
Read on as we list the different ways in which you can get your drain back to normal.
Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
This hack of unclogging your drain is one of the most used methods in every household, around the world. Not only is this effective but it is also quite pocket-friendly.
Take 1/3 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of vinegar and mix them together. As soon as the mixture starts to fizz, immediately pour the mix down the clogged drain. You will soon see that it is the fizzing action that helps to loosen any hair, gunk, grime, and any other nasty bits that may have built up in the pipe.
After you have poured the mixture, let the mixture sit for the entire night. In case of emergencies, make sure that you leave the baking soda and vinegar for at least an hour. Afterward, pour hot water down the drain to remove any buildup. This will help to free more space in your drain by minimizing any blockage.
Instead of creating a mixture, you can also directly put dry baking soda down the drain first. Be generous to make sure you have enough baking soda so that this remedy works. Proceed with pouring vinegar down the drain. Again, the fizzing reaction will be created that will get the job done.
Using the Good Ol’ Plunger
If there is one tool that is used for unclogging universally, it has to be the plunger. But there is a little trick here to get the best results.
You have to make sure that the plunging power is directly delivered to the blocked drain to help create a powerful suction. The best way to ensure this is by covering any exposed air holes in the sink.
In case you are working with a two-basin kitchen sink, don’t forget to cover one of the drains of the sink with a damp cloth when you are using the plunger on the other drain hole. This, in turn, makes the plunging action even more effective to unblock the drain.
We would like to advise you to refrain from plunging a sink that has a chemical cleaner poured down the drain. You see, plunging might result in water splashes due to which the chemical cleaner may burn you. Also, don’t forget to put on eye goggles before you get started with the plunger.
Putting Boiling Water Down the Drain
This hack is suitable for people who don’t want to put too much effort but yet want effective results. Quite frankly, just pouring down boiling water in the drain is also one of the easiest ways to get the job done which is why so many people prefer this method.
After you have boiled the water on the stove or a microwave, pour it directly down your drain. Remember, you need to do this at repeated intervals. In other words, after you pour the hot water for the first time, wait for a couple of seconds for the hot water to start to work. Proceed with pouring it for the second time and repeat if needed.
