How do you unblock a badly blocked bath?

Author: Ms. Caroline Jacobs II  |  Last update: Monday, December 22, 2025

These ingredients, when used together, can also sometimes help to clear clogs. For this home remedy, all you need to do is pour a pot of boiling water down the bathtub drain. Then pour a mixture of one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar into the drain. Insert the drain plug, or close the filter, and wait 5–10 minutes.

How do you unclog a severely clogged bathtub?

To make a long story short remove all the water from the tub using a cup or a shop vac. Pour Drano max gel (red bottle) into the drain let it sit for an hour. Put a rubber stopper over the drain or close the drain however you normally do. Take a long hot shower letting the tub fill back up with your shower water.

How do you unblock a bath fast?

Start by pouring a kettle full of boiling water down the drain to loosen any grease around the blockage. Now pour down two tablespoons of baking soda and leave it to settle on the blockage for several minutes. Finally, pour a cup of white vinegar down and let the fizzing reaction work its magic for five minutes.

Why should you never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

Baking soda is abrasive, which, when used in large quantities, will cause the drain more damage. Additionally, the acidic nature of vinegar can eat away rubber and metal, damaging the plumbing. As these products break down the pipe and connectors in the plumbing in your home, it will cause more clogs over time.

What is the best chemical to unclog a bathtub?

Try Drain-o, Thrift, Liquid Plumr, Paqua, or Instant Power Hair Relief products with varying levels of chemicals to dissolve it. Be sure to always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

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What is the strongest drain unclogger?

The Santeen Sulfuric Acid Drain Opener proved to be the most potent among all the chemical drain cleaners we tested, effectively dissolving 80% of the hair, 80% of the organic matter, 40% of the grease and 76% of the paper products.

What do you do if your drain won't unclog?

Pour one cup of fresh baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. Wait 15 minutes to allow the vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain, Then take out the drain cover and run hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog.

What chemical do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Properties and Uses: Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is a highly corrosive acid used extensively by plumbers to clear severe clogs. It reacts rapidly with organic materials in drains, breaking them down into simpler compounds that can be easily flushed away.

What will dissolve hair in a drain?

Heat 2 or 4 liters of water on your stove or in a kettle to just short of boiling. Add about 1/2 cup of salt. Try pouring this down the drain, then wait 15 minutes before seeing if it will clear more easily. If you need a stronger cleaning, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then add 1/2 cup of vinegar.

What is the best product to unclog a bath?

Liquid-Plumr Hair Clog Eliminator

This thick gel is specifically formulated to blast through the clumps of hair that slow down sink, tub and shower drains. The manufacturer claims it is septic-safe and we have no reason to think otherwise based on our extensive experience with other Liquid-Plumr products.

How do you unblock a bathtub without a plunger?

Method one: Vinegar and baking soda

Pour boiling water down the drain to loosen dirt and grease. Add two tablespoons of baking soda and leave for two minutes. Then, pour in a cup of white vinegar and let the concoction fizz up for 5-minutes. Flush with another kettle of boiling water.

Why is my bathtub not draining?

Water not going down in your bathtub is typically due to a clog in the drain pipe. This can be caused by an accumulation of hair, soap scum, and other debris. Sometimes, it may also be due to more serious issues like pipe damage or sewer line problems, especially if multiple drains in your home are affected.

How do you unclog a bathtub when Drano doesn't work?

Use ½-1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar, plus a bit of water if you want to dilute things a little bit more. Pour it down the drain and let it sit for 30-60 minutes. Sometimes, this mixture can break up clogs that even Drano can't touch!

How do you unclog a bathtub with hair?

To unclog a bathtub drain full of hair, follow these steps:
  1. Remove the drain stopper and clean out any visible hair and debris.
  2. Use a drain claw tool to grab and remove hair buildup deep in the drain.
  3. Apply a chemical or natural drain cleaner, following the instructions carefully.
  4. Plunge the drain to dislodge the clog.

What do professionals use to unblock drains?

Drain snakes also called drain rooters or augers, use a long cable with a spiral-shaped head.

What is the best thing to use to unclog a bathtub drain?

For this home remedy, all you need to do is pour a pot of boiling water down the bathtub drain. Then pour a mixture of one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar into the drain. Insert the drain plug, or close the filter, and wait 5–10 minutes. Finally, flush the drain with another pot of boiling water.

What dissolves concrete in a drain?

Use Croc Crete to Remove Hardened Cement

This is the best method of removing hardened concrete from a drainage system. Croc Crete is a cement softener that attacks concrete at its core. It transforms cement back to its liquid form, allowing you to work it through the drain.

How do you unclog the worst drain?

Pour hot water down the drain, followed by a cup of baking soda. Let it sit for a few minutes to work its magic on the gunk. After a few minutes, add a mixture of hot water and vinegar. This chemical reaction generates fizz, which can help break down the nastiest clogs.

Is baking soda and vinegar better than Drano?

Using baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain is an effective and natural cleaning method, which some people prefer over harsher chemicals. It works great for weaker drain clogs. By using this mixture periodically, you may be able to avoid clogs altogether (and the need for a more powerful cleaner like Drano).

Why squirt Dawn in the bathtub at night?

Applying dish soap before the night gives the solution ample time to work its magic. As the hours pass, the dish soap loosens and lifts away the grime that has taken residence on your bathtub's surface.

How to unclog a bathtub drain without tools?

Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of salt in water and pour it down the drain. Let it sit for 30-40 minutes to give it some time to work on breaking down any grease or debris. Then, pour hot water down the drain to flush it out. These methods are effective for unclogging drains and can save you time and money.

Can boiling hot water unclog a drain?

Pouring boiling water down the drain to unclog it most likely won't work. Sure, there's a very small chance it could loosen the clog, but there's a larger risk of softening or melting PVC joints.

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