Pour boiling hot water down the drain. This can dissolve mildew, slime, soap scum, and other similar clogs. Put half a cup of baking soda in the drain, then pour half a cup of vinegar down after it. Let this mixture sit for an hour, and then check the drain.
A lot of folks know the baking soda and vinegar trick. Simply pour some hot water down your clogged drain and follow it up with equal parts baking soda and vinegar (baking soda first), cover the drain with a plug if you have one, let it sit for 20-30 minutes, then follow it up with more hot water to clear the clog.
The process of unblocking drains with rods is variously called snaking, cable rodding, augering or rooting. It involves pushing a specialist, heavy-duty metal cable through the pipe to break up the blockage, thus allowing water to flow through.
Clogs can also be caused by buildup in the third, lateral section of the pipe. Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover is effective on these clog types as well. Keep some on hand for its reliable clog-busting power!
When Drano won't go down the drain, grab a plunger instead. Many people think that these are only good for toilets. However, they can create suction that can dislodge your clog. Make sure that you get a plunger that can seal all the way around your drain.
The most common chemicals used to unblock sinks are Drano, hydrochloric acid, or caustic soda. Chemical drain cleaners can be effective at removing even the toughest clogs. They come in different forms, such as powder, liquid, or gel, so be sure to buy one that best suits your situation.
Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is another chemical that can help with drain cleaning and drain unblocking in any kitchen or bathroom and even in outside drains. It causes a chemical reaction when it comes into contact with organic matter in a clogged drain or slow drain.
When you are using a baking soda and vinegar solution to clean out your drain, you are actually causing the rubber and plastic that are used for the drain's pipes to be eaten away by the mixture. Over time, this rubber and plastic will break down, causing the drain to become even more blocked.
A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.
Using a snake is also more invasive and time-consuming than using a chemical cleaner is, and can often become a dirty job. When it comes to getting at and removing major clogs or clogs that are deep down in your pipes, however, a plumber's snake is your best bet.
Once you have confirmed that the drain is your responsibility then you can go ahead and attempt to unblock it yourself or call out a professional plumber for help. If the drain is outside of your property, then simply contact your local water sewerage company so they can take care of the blockage.
Use a hose or pressure jet for overflowing drains.
If you can see any obvious blockages such as leaves or other debris, remove this first by hand, remembering to cover up. Once the water is at a manageable level, push the hose or pressure jet as far down the drain as possible and seal the entrance to the drain cover.
For solid blocks in your outside drains, use caustic soda to help. We have also provided a step-by-step guide for how to unblock your outside drains with a drain rod or read more about drain rods below.
Pour a mixture of 1 cup vinegar (apple cider vinegar works best) and 1 cup boiling water down the drain. (Substitute lemon juice for vinegar for a great-smelling drain ? Plug the drain to keep the vinegar baking soda reaction below the drain surface. Flush the drain once more with 4 cups of boiling water.
Can you leave baking soda in the drain overnight? It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain.
Hot Water and Dish Soap
Pour or squeeze ½ cup of Dawn® dish detergent (or any detergent you have around the house) down the drain. Let the detergent work its way down the drain for 30 minutes. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Once boiled, pour the entire kettle down the clogged drain.
You'll need boiling water, a cup, bicarbonate of soda and some vinegar. Take the drain cover off and pour the boiling water down the drain. Add a cup of bicarb followed by a cup of vinegar, it should begin to fizz and bubble up. Replace the drain cover and repeat every couple of hours until the blockage is cleared.
You may be surprised to learn that pouring soda down the drain does work for some clogs. To be specific, you need a dark-colored cola (such as Coca-Cola or Pepsi). This type of carbonated beverage usually contains a good amount of phosphoric acid, which given enough time, can eat away at some types of clogs.
Hydrogen Peroxide Drain Cleaner
Add 3 cups of the chemical into 3/4 gallon of cold water, stir it with a wooden spoon that you don't mind discarding later, and pour it down the drain. After 20-30 minutes, flush it with boiling water. Additional applications may be necessary in some cases.
Next, pour in 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide. Foam will start forming as the baking soda and the peroxide start mixing. The bubbling action will help agitate the organic debris that's clogging your drain. For best results, leave the drain overnight or avoid using it for a few hours if you are doing this during the day.
Auger: An auger is one of a professional plumber's best tools. Also known as a plumbing snake. This flexible tool can wind its way through any drain to reach the blockage. It is used in both bathrooms and kitchens.
If your drain is outside it will most likely have been caused by a build-up of dead leaves, or even tree roots which can find their way into pipes and cause a barrier to the flow of water. If it's an indoor blockage, it could have occurred because of heavy materials or objects being flushed down the drain.