Unclog a Drain without Using Chemicals
If you've ever tried to unclog a drain with chemicals, you know that it's not fun. The fumes are strong and the process is messy. But what if I told you that there was a way to unclog a drain without using any chemicals? There are a number of natural cleaning products to help you out.
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Unclog a Drain without Using Chemicals
It never fails! You are enjoying a nice hot shower only to release that the water is pooling around your ankles in the shower. You have a clog. You really don’t want to pour a chemical product into the sink to get rid of the clog, so what can you do?
There are non-chemical options that will depend on how quickly you want it to work, and the amount of effort you want to expend.
A Plunger
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to move a clog is to use a plunger to try to move the clog out of the way with pressure. If you have previously used chemicals in the drain to remove the clog, make sure you use rubber gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself.
Hot, Hot Water
Following the plunger method, you could try plain, boiling hot water. Plug off the overflow holes and start pouring boiling water slowly down the drain.
Leave the water in the sink for at least a half hour. The clog may dissipate on its own.
Homemade Drain Cleaning Solution
If you haven’t used a commercial drain cleaning product recently, you might consider using this solution. All of these items are commonly found in your kitchen.
Pour one-half cup of baking soda into your drain. Carefully pour one-half cup of vinegar over the baking soda and cover the drain, if at all possible.
At this point, the two will begin bubbling just like a child’s volcano experiment for school. After a few minutes, the bubbling should stop.
Pour at least a half gallon of boiling water over what’s left of the baking soda and vinegar. Then follow that with hot running water to flush it all down the drain. This process may have to be used more than once to clear the stubborn clog.
Get A Snake
If after you’ve tried the vinegar and baking soda and the clog is still there, you have other options besides chemicals. Do you have a “snake?” This is a 25-50 foot metal wire with a bulb at the end. You push the snake into the drain. When it hits the blockage, you just keep twisting until the drain runs free.
In our house, clogs are from hair because we have three long-haired ladies in the house.
Still Clogged?
You’ve tried a plunger, vinegar and baking soda, boiling water, and a snake. What happens if your drain is still clogged? It might be time to bite the bullet and call a licensed plumber.
While home methods will sometimes work on the first or second try, there may be more of a problem than you realized.
It is at those times that you will want to allow a professional to take over. Not only will they be able to get your drains running again, but they might also save you a bigger problem in the future.
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