Quick and Easy Clogged Drain Home Remedies

If you have a clogged drain in your sink at home, don’t stress. Below are the top seven clogged drain home remedies to help you unclog that drain! Best of all, you should have most of these items or ingredients already at your home.

1. Checking disposal for kitchen sinks
2. Boiling water solutions
3. Baking soda mixtures
4. Plunging
5. Cleaning P-trap (also known as U-pipe)
6. Snaking the drain
7. Utilizing a shop vac

Before attempting any of these methods, it is best to remove any standing water first. Use cups or containers to scoop out the water, then dump it in another sink, toilet, or even outside.

Checking disposal (for kitchen sinks only)

Garbage disposals can easily get clogged and be the source of a clogged drain for kitchen sinks. Before inspecting the disposal, always ensure it is completely off! There is typically a switch on the base to turn it on or off, not just the wall outlet. If the disposal is the source of the clog, then this article by American Home Shield provides some great tips on dealing with clogged garbage disposals.

Boiling water solutions

There are two boiling water solutions to try out. First, is using boiling water only. Pour boiling water into the sink. Wait five minutes or so to see if the level goes down any. If there is still standing water, attempt to remove as much standing water again. You might need to repeat this process a few times to see if it is effective.

The second option is using salt with the boiling water. Pour approximately 1/2 cup of salt into the drain, followed immediately by around a quart of boiling water. After it sits for a couple minutes, flush it with hot water.

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Baking soda mixtures

There are two baking soda mixtures that are often effective in eliminating clogs in drains. Those are:

Baking Soda and Vinegar

This is among the most popular and commonly known of home remedies for unclogging sinks. White or apple cider vinegar works well. Mix a 1/3 cup of baking soda and a 1/3 cup of vinegar together. Dump immediate into the drain. It should sit for approximately an hour, then flush it with hot water.

Baking Soda and Salt

Another age-old remedy is the baking soda and salt combination. Mix a 1/2 cup of baking soda and a 1/2 cup of salt. Dump into the drain and let it sit for around 15 minutes. Flush it with boiling, not hot, water.

Plunging

Plungers (like this highly rated one) are not only effective for clogged toilets, but also for clogged sink drains! Be sure to plug up the overflow opening of the sink and other drain in double-sided kitchen sinks. You will need enough water to cover the plunger cup and ensure there is a tight seal. Plunge in a similar manner to a toilet plunge attempt. Try it several times. If successful, be sure to flush the sink with hot water.

Cleaning P-trap (also known as U-pipe)

The U-shaped pipe under a sink is often where clogs get stuck at in the drains. You will need a plumber’s wrench to remove the pipe. Be sure to place a bucket under the pipe to catch any water or the clogging item(s). Once you dump anything from the pipe into the bucket, you can then clean the pipe and hopefully get out the clogging item. An old toothbrush is a great tool to clean the pipe. After it is clean, rinse the pipe under hot water. If possible, use another sink or the bathtub to do this, since the pipe is missing from the sink it might cause a mess even with the bucket! When reattaching the pipe, ensure it is tightly in place.

Snaking the drain

Ideally, it is best to use a plumber’s drain snake. We highly recommend you use rubber gloves and eye protection if you use the heavy duty version of this tool. Depending on what type you have, manual versus electric the instructions might vary slightly. Be sure to read all directions and safety instructions before using this piece of equipment. If this method works, like the other remedies listed above be sure to flush the sink with hot water afterwards.

If you do not have, or do not want to buy, a drain snake, the next best alternative is using a wire coat hanger. You will need to use pliers to straighten out the hanger. Be careful to not scratch the pipe with the wire hanger. This video shows how to do this step-by-step.

Utilizing a Shop Vac

This is a final, but powerful, last resort. Many use a wet and dry shop vacuum to clean up flooding or leaks. However, the powerful suction can also suction out a clog in a drain. You will need to create some type of seal on the hose. Many people utilize a plastic soda bottle or plunger head. Set the shop vac to the highest liquids setting so it will be a strong enough suction to dislodge the clog.

Need help with a clogged tub drain?

Tub drains are sometimes a bit more complicated to unclog as you usually cannot easily get under or into the pipes. A few of the methods discussed above that might work in clearing these clogs are:

• Boiling water solutions
• Baking soda mixtures
• Plunging
• Snaking
• Utilizing a shop vac

1. Start by plunging to see if you can suction the clog out of the drain.
2. Use a snake to remove hair from the drain.
3. Pour a half cup of salt down the drain and let it sit for a half an hour.
4. Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain.

The salt helps scour the insides of the pipes and remove soap, grease or grime from the drain pipe as it washes down.

Preventative measures to avoid clogs

Here are a few tips on how to avoid clogs:

• Do not overload garbage disposals.
• Never put grease, coffee grounds, or oils down a sink drain.
• Always flush anything down thoroughly with plenty of water.
• Try to clean any hairs out of sinks and put into a trash can instead of washing down the drain.

We hope these clogged drain home remedies get your sink back up and running in no time!

Read the Original Post at Crafty Little Gnome