All you really need to unclog your sink or shower drains are some clever all-natural home hacks. Is water lingering in your sink, or is your bathtub not draining? We’ll show you home remedies for clogged drains that don’t use environmentally harmful chemical cleaning agents.
Unclog Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar
If the build-up of calcium, lime or grease is slowing water draining from your sink or tub, these natural home remedies for clogged drains can help get things running smoothly:
- Baking powder and vinegar: Pour four tablespoons of baking powder into the drain and immediately follow it with half a cup of vinegar. As the baking powder and vinegar mix, you’ll hear it bubbling. Once the bubbling has stopped, pour hot water down the drain to rinse away the build-up.
- Baking soda and vinegar: Alternatively, you can use baking soda to unclog a drain. As with the baking powder, place four tablespoons of baking soda into the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Rinse the drain with hot water after it’s stopped bubbling.
Plungers: Easy Home Remedies for Clogged Drains
The clog in your drain may be caused by a build-up of hair, food particles or other gritty materials. You can dislodge this obstruction yourself using a plunger. The trick for this to work is using the proper technique. Here’s how to unclog your drain using a plunger:
- Position the plunger directly over your drain and press it down towards the sink. Seal off other openings — like overflow protection holes — with a wet cloth.
- Run water into the sink until the water has completely covered the plunger’s rubber cup.
- Move the plunger up and down without lifting it entirely from the drain.
- After plunging the sink or shower drain several times, take the plunger out of the sink. If the clog has loosened, the water should be able to drain freely once again. If not, put the plunger back on the clogged drain and start plunging again. If this process again fails to unclog it, you may want to consider an alternative method. Keep reading for additional approaches to unclogging even the most stubborn clogged sink and shower drains.
Unclog Your Drain with a Drain Snake
You can try a drain snake if the plunger doesn’t work to unclog your sink or shower drain. A drain snake is a special cable coil that uses a drilling movement to break through the grime in your pipes. We recommend only using this method if you are good with your hands. You have to be very careful not to damage the pipe.
- Gently insert the coil through the drain opening to avoid accidentally damaging the pipe.
- Slowly turn the handle to advance the snake while applying slight pressure toward the drain.
- Once you feel a firm resistance, pull the spiral back a little bit, then push it towards the drain again.
- If you cannot unclog the drain, it might be time to consult a professional plumber. Some clogs are just too persistent to be removed without professional tools.
Read more:
- Cleaning Your Oven: These Natural Home Remedies Are Better Than Chemical Cleaners
- Saving Water at Home: 8 Tips
- Clean Your Windows Naturally: Household Solutions for Streak-Free Shine, Every Time
This article was translated from German into English. You can view the original here: Verstopften Abfluss reinigen: Diese Hausmittel helfen.
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