Hair, grease, and other objects can build up in your drain and cause a stubborn clog. When this happens, you want a cleaner that will get your sink or tub cleared quickly.
Although store-bought drain cleaners are convenient to purchase and easy to pour down the drain, you should avoid using these products as much as possible. As the name suggests, chemical drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can seriously damage your drain – leading to an even bigger plumbing problem than you started with.
Your localRockville, MD, loodgieterscan help clear clogs of any size using a variety of drain cleaning methods. But if you'd rather clean your bathroom or kitchen sink yourself, there are a number of effective drain cleaners you can make at home. Most of these natural homemade mixes use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, making them very easy to make.
Without further ado, let's discuss five DIY drain cleaning methods that you can try.
- Treat greasy clogs with dishwashing liquid
Grease, oil, and grease (FOG) are some of the most common culprits when it comes to clogged drains. These substances stick to dishes and pans, and if you forget to scrub them off, they can travel down the depths of your drain. Once the FOG settles, it will solidify, effectively restricting your water flow.
Fortunately, you can break through FOG clogs with a few DIY unblocking methods. Take liquid dish soap and warm water, for example. This combination of ingredients is often ideal for tackling greasy blockages.
Combine a few tablespoons of dish soap with two quarts of boiling water. Once thoroughly mixed, pour them down the clogged drain. Follow the mixture with another pot of boiling water.
You may need to repeat the process a few times to see improvement. The reassuring news is that dish soap is safe to use on all types of drains, so you don't have to worry about causing damage to your pipes.
- Try classic baking soda and vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar is a proven mixture for unclogging drains. Since you probably have these ingredients lying around, this is also one of the most cost-effective drain cleaners you can make at home.
Pour a cup of baking soda down the affected drain, followed immediately by a cup of white vinegar. You should let the mixture sit for 15 minutes to an hour. After letting the mixture do its work, flush the drain with a pot of boiling water.
As with most of these DIY drain cleaning methods, you may need to try a few extra times. Larger clogs can be more challenging to remove with natural drain cleaners.
- Use baking soda, salt and vinegar for harder clogs
If you're dealing with a stubborn clog, you may want to try more extensive DIY unblocking methods. Combine ½ cup of baking soda with ½ cup of salt. Because salt is abrasive, it will gently scrub the inside of your drain. Pour this mixture down the drain and follow it with a cup of boiling vinegar. Let this mixture sit for at least 10 minutes and then pour boiling water down the drain to rinse it away.
- Think baking powder, salt and cream of tartar
Tartar cream is very effective at cleaning metals, making it the perfect drain cleaner ingredient to make at home. Combine ½ cup baking soda, ½ cup salt, and ⅛ cup cream of tartar in a sealable jar or container. Shake the mixture as thoroughly as possible. Once combined, pour half of the mixture down the appropriate drain.
Let the homemade drain cleaner sit for thirty minutes to an hour, then rinse with warm water. If necessary, you can repeat the process with the remaining mixture.
- Combine the borax, salt and vinegar
Many DIY drain cleaning methods use baking soda. But if you've used up the last of the baking soda, Borax can be a useful alternative.
If you have Borax on hand, consider trying this drain cleaner. Combine ¼ cup borax, ¼ cup salt and ¼ cup vinegar in a pot of boiling water. Carefully pour the mixture down the drain and let it sit for up to an hour. Then flush the drain with warm water.
Remove difficult clogs with a professional
Many of us take our waste bins and drains for granted, which can unfortunately lead to blockages when we least expect them. Whether you're dealing with slow drains, bad odors, or water backing up in your sink or shower drain, it's crucial that you deal with clogs quickly.
These DIY drain cleaning methods can be helpful in breaking down all kinds of clogs. However, some stubborn clogs may require professional drain cleaning. If you've tried these drain cleaners you can make at home but still have a clog, Magnolia Plumbing, Heating and Cooling has you covered. We take care of everything from drain cleaning to...24-timers VVS-service. Contact us today!
