How to remove a choked bathroom drain?

Author: Holly Bernhard  |  Last update: Sunday, January 4, 2026

How do you unclog a bathroom sink drain?
  1. Use a “Zip-It” drain cleaning tool to remove hair clumps. ...
  2. Pour boiling water into the sink drain. ...
  3. Try using vinegar & baking soda. ...
  4. Try plunging the clogged drain. ...
  5. Take apart your P-trap and clean it. ...
  6. Use a drain snake (or a plumber's snake) to snake your drain. ...
  7. Call a plumber!

How do you clear a choked drain?

Baking Soda & Salt – Pour equal parts of each down your drain, let it sit 20-30 minutes, then follow it up with hot water. Vinegar, Salt, & Lemon – Mix equal parts of salt and vinegar in a bowl, add a half part of lemon juice, then pour the mixture down your drain.

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.

How to clear a clogged drain past the trap?

Unclog Your Kitchen Sink in 4 Steps
  1. Step 1: Baking Soda and White Vinegar. These common pantry items double as superstars of the DIY world. ...
  2. Step 2: Follow Up with Hot Water. Next, run hot (not boiling) water and see if you've conquered that clog. ...
  3. Step 3: Plunge the Sink. ...
  4. Step 4: Unscrew and Clean the Sink's P-Trap.

What is the best way to unblock a bathroom drain?

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.

It cleans the drain better than a machine. The stench disappears

How to open a choked bathroom drain?

How to unblock a bath drain all by yourself
  1. Baking soda. Actually, you'll need to mix that baking soda - which you may already have in the pantry - with ordinary white vinegar. ...
  2. Commercial product. ...
  3. Boiling water. ...
  4. Plunger. ...
  5. By hand. ...
  6. Coat hanger/drain snake.

What do plumbers use to unblock 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.

How to unblock a clogged drain deep in a pipe?

A plunger can be effective for dislodging clogs near the drain opening. For deeper clogs, a drain snake or auger can reach and break up blockages inside the pipe. Hydro jetting kits, which use high-pressure water to clear pipes, are also available for more persistent clogs.

Will pouring bleach down a drain unclog it?

It is not a great drain clog remover. Bleach has no effect in dissolving the common culprits of household drain clogs, like hair, food scraps and grease. Also, pouring bleach can harm the integrity of your drains and pipes. It's a lose-lose scenario.

How do you get a drain snake past a trap?

START BY REMOVING YOUR P-TRAP

It's typically a good rule of thumb to remove this P-trap before you insert the plumbing snake to make it easier to get into your drain pipe. If you were to leave the P-trap in place, you would have to remove the inside of the drain and try to go around the P-trap curve.

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.

Can I pour boiling water down the drain?

Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.

Can you use hydrogen peroxide to unclog a drain?

Yes, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use for unclogging a drain. It will dissolve and loosen natural matter—like skin cells—stuck in the pipes. Hydrogen peroxide also reduces germs and disinfects the drain, helping it smell fresher and clean.

Will a clogged drain go away on its own?

Unfortunately, the answer is no — very small clogs may wash away on their own, but they can also develop into larger clogs that require a fix from a professional plumber. In this guide, Desert Water Plumbing and Rooter will provide insights and solutions for those grappling with clogged sewer lines.

How do you unclog an underground drain?

Use a drain snake

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.

How to clean bathroom pipe blockage?

When these two ingredients are combined, they create a chemical reaction that can break down and dissolve clogs.
  1. Step 1: Pour baking soda and vinegar into the toilet. ...
  2. Step 2: Leave the mixture for a few minutes. ...
  3. Step 3: Pour hot water. ...
  4. Step 4: Ensure the clog is removed. ...
  5. Step 5: Flush the toilet. ...
  6. Step 1: Prepare hot water.

What dissolves hair in a drain?

If your drain is clogged with hair, baking soda can dissolve hair in a drain. To try this safe and easy method at home – first, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then pour a cup of vinegar (white vinegar) down. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes.

Does boiling water unblock drains?

Boiling water is a traditional approach to unblocking drains, but it isn't the only technique available. Homeowners often utilise chemical cleaners to clear blockages, but these cleaners may pose risks to both the environment and pipes due to their harsh ingredients.

What is the best drain clog remover?

What is the best overall drain cleaner? During our lab testing, we found the Green Gobbler Main Line Opener performed best at clearing clogs. It's worth noting that the Green Gobbler Main Line Opener claims to be safe for toilets, sinks, tubs, showers and even septic tanks.

How much does hydro jetting cost?

Hydro jetting costs $475 on average but range from $350 to $600. A plumber can give you a quote and get rid of your sewer clog. Having to keep your plumber on speed dial is no fun for any homeowner. If chronic sewer clogs are giving you issues, it might be time to call in the big guns.

What is the best thing to unblock a drain?

Try pouring hot water down the drain, then follow it with one cup of bicarbonate of soda and a cup of vinegar. Leave it for ten minutes, then chase it with more hot water. A combination of the hot water and the natural cleaner mixture can break blockages up.

What is the best chemical to unclog a drain?

Sulfuric acid might sound like an extreme chemical to dissolve a drain blockage, but it can be a very effective chemical for unclogging drains and it can melt away the most stubborn solids, oils, and grease from drain pipes within 60 minutes or less.

What do plumbers do for clogged drains?

Plumbers choose hydro jetting equipment for the most stubborn, deep-set clogs. This drain clearing tool uses high-pressure water to flush your pipes and remove years of buildup. The water jet is so strong that it can even break up any tree roots that have found their way into your sewer line.

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.

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