If you’ve ever been stuck with an unexpected clogged drain, you know it’s difficult to figure out what to do. If your household doesn’t have any drain cleaner laying around, it can seem almost impossible to clear the clog.
Image credit: winnond | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
However, there are some little known secrets that can actually handle the problem with items found in any household.
Use these tips to unclog a drain whenever you are in a pinch.
Homemade drain cleaner
You don’t have to waste money on expensive drain cleaning solutions whenever there’s a clog. You can actually make an effective solution from everyday products located in your kitchen pantry.
One effective solution consists of baking soda and vinegar. Try mixing one third cup of each, and immediately pouring it down the drain.
Ideally, you should let the solution work on the drain for an hour or more. You might also try simply dumping baking soda down the drain first, then following it up with a wash of vinegar. Regardless of the technique you use, make sure to flush hot water down the drain to ensure it is clean.
The low-cost drain snake
Buying manufactured drain cleaning snakes can add up over time. You usually need to buy a new one each time the drain clogs. You can avoid such costs by using a simple wire hanger to scoop out blockage. Unravel the wire hanger so that it is at the maximum length.
Then make a hook at the end (in a size appropriate for the drain hole) and carefully lead the hanger down the pipe. Once the hanger reaches the bottom area, you should attempt to pull it up to catch the blockage. Once the blockage is removed, you may dispose of it.
Vacuuming the clog
A rather creative way to remove a clog is to use a shop vac with wet and dry capabilities. For this to be successful, you will have to make an airtight seal between the head of the vacuum hose and the drain opening.
Once the seal is secured, you can simply turn on the vacuum, and let the suctioning power draw out the debris. You don’t have to get your hands messy either because the clogging material will go directly into the vacuum bag.
When you have a clog, don’t despair. There are many creative ways to solve the problem. You can now use the methods listed above. In the worst-case scenario, you might want to contact a plumber for professional assistance.
If you are still unable to unclog your drain, contact Need-A-Plumber Canada or other qualified plumbing specialist.
Karleia Steiner
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Very well written about to unclog a shower drain. Actually I had never knew about homemade drain cleaner and I hardly tried anything on my own. This seems like quite easy to perform. Thanks for sharing these tips.
You are welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Drain cleaning allows your pipes to dispose of your wastewater quickly. The more efficient your waste plumbing, the less of a risk to cross-contamination issues, such as backflow. We do not want organic waste to begin to accumulate inside our piping, which can lead to blockages and piping damage.
This reminds of that time when I actually just used vinegar to declog. Honestly I was thinking it would do the job, but I ended up with a sink smelling like vinegar all morning.
Gotta buy baking soda next time.
Thanks for sharing.
Embarrassing to admit but even though I’ve been in the water damage restoration industry for many years, I never even knew that baking soda and vinegar would do the trick. I’ve tried using the drain snake and vacuuming the drain with great results, I guess next time I might just try the baking soda and vinegar, we have plenty of that in the house. Great tips, thanks!