Your day can be ruined by a clogged drain. A clogged drain is a critical part of your plumbing system. It can cause serious damage. Greasy water in the kitchen sink or in the bathtub can cause a lot of distress in your home. Clogs most often occur in the kitchen and bathroom drains. These drains are subject to soap scum, food, toothpaste and other drain clogging material daily. Clogged drains can be frustrating and difficult to fix.
What causes clogged drains?
Food and other substances can block your drain. You can attract pests such as drain flies if you don’t clear these clogs.
Top 7 Drain Cleaning Solutions
There are many products that claim to be the best in unclogging your drain. While some of these products can unclog drains, others cause damage to pipes and worsen clogs. These are the top 4 clogged drain solutions that experts recommend.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Baking soda and vinegar can be used to unclog a blocked drain. To unclog your drain, you can use baking soda and vinegar. After that, you should plug it with water. The solution should clear the clog. However, you need to repeat the process if the clog continues. This drain cleaning product works better than any chemical options in the store, which could damage your pipes. This is also a cheaper option than top-of-the-line top clogged drain cleaners.
Baking soda and salt
Baking soda, salt and vinegar work in a similar way. Combine 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup salt. Allow this to sit for 30 minutes, or even overnight. Then pour hot water down the drain. If necessary, repeat the process. You should not leave it longer than the recommended time limit as this could cause problems with your pipes. This natural remedy is an excellent alternative to chemical cleaners, which can be dangerous to the environment and your family.
Plunging
A clogged bathroom drain is better for plunging than one in the kitchen. Grease, leftover food particles and soap scum can often buildup in kitchen sinks. The curves on kitchen sink drains can trap food and buildup. The plunger can push the blockage further down and clear the obstruction. After you have finished plunging, empty the sink of all dishes or rags.
After this, you can begin to plunge your drain. A rubber plunger is best. If the clog is very severe, this might not be possible and you should contact a plumber.
Snaking
You can snake your drain yourself if a plunger fails to work. There are many types and lengths of drain snakes. A 25-50-foot drain snake can clear many sink clogs. You will need to first remove the tub stopper from the shower/bathtub drain. Also, remove any hairs that might be trapped in the drain’s cross-section.
If this doesn’t clear your blocked drain, it’s possible that there is a bigger clog. It is recommended that you use an ordinary drain snake with a 1/4 or 5/16-inch cable to snake a tub drain. It may be difficult to maneuver larger snakes around the curves of pipes. It can be challenging to clean clogged drains. If in doubt, call a local Long Beach Plumbing Company.
Hot Water and Dish Soap
You can use what you have at hand to unclog your drain. You will need to boil approximately two liters water, and then add a few drops of liquid dish soap. Slowly pour the mixture down the sink once you have combined them. It may take several attempts to get the desired results. This combination can be used to heat grease into liquid, and then move it down the drain.
Vinegar, Borax, Salt
You can also combine 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup Borax and 1/2 cup vinegar in a pot with boiling water. Mix everything together and pour it down the drain. Let it sit for at least one hour. After an hour, rinse the bowl with hot water.
Wire Coat Hanger
If you’ve tried several different ways to unclog your drain but nothing worked, head over to your closet to grab a wire coat hook. Make sure you straighten the hanger, but don’t forget the hook. To throw out your finds, you can grab a bag. Simply place the hook end of your hanger down the drain and then move it around to remove any hair or food that has clogged the drain. After you have taken the hanger off, you can run hot water down your drain to clean up any remaining debris. To avoid further problems, use this method gently.
Here are some reasons to avoid chemical drain cleaners
People often turn to chemical drain cleaners to unclog their drains. Although this is a convenient option, it is not the best for clearing clogged drains. Chemical drain cleaners can cause corrosion in your pipes and holes to form in your pipes. They can also make your septic tanks less efficient over time because they kill the natural bacteria in the tank. Some chemical drain cleaners will not even clear clogs, and can actually cause damage to your plumbing.
Even if your pipes have strong materials, chemical cleaners can cause irreparable damage to your pipes. Chemical drain cleaners can also be harmful to the environment. These chemicals can end up in groundwater and landfills, causing pollution. Drinking toxic water can cause illness in small birds and other animals. The toxic water could also get into your home, infecting your drinking water.
Your pipes and septic system can be damaged by chemical drain cleaners. These cleaners can essentially eat through your pipes. Even if your pipes have strong materials, chemical cleaners can cause irreparable damage to your pipes.
Chemical cleaners can have dangerous side effects in addition to the negative effects they have had previously. Many cleaners can produce toxic fumes that can cause severe burns to your skin if they come in contact with your skin. You could damage the tub’s surface depending on how much cleaner you use. You can try a natural way to clean your drains instead of using chemical drain cleaners.