Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Using household tools to unclog a drain
• Method 2 of 4: Using household cleaners to unclog a drain
• Method 3 of 4: Unclog a drain with a hose
• Method 4 of 4: Try commercial drain cleaners
• Tips
• Necessities
• Use household tools to unclog a drain
• Using household cleaners to unclog a drain
• Unclog a drain with a hose
• Try commercial drain cleaners

A clogged drain can happen in any household and most people immediately reach for a dry cleaner or call a plumber.However, there are many home, garden, and kitchen solutions you can try first, and all are quite simple. Before calling a plumber or buying a strong chemical, see if you can fix the blockage yourself with some simple DIY methods!

To step

Method 1 of 4: Using household tools to unclog a drain

1. Unclog a sink drain with an upturned clothes hanger. Take a wire clothes hanger and straighten it, then bend one end at a 90 degree angle with pliers. Make sure the hook is small enough to fit through the drain gutter, which is the screen that keeps debris out. Push the end with the hook into the drain, turn it around and pull it up. Keep doing this until you've cleared hair and dirt from the clogged drain.
   • If your plunger doesn't fit through the holes in the drain, remove the drain with an adjustable wrench from the bottom of the sink.
   • Try not to push the dirt further into the pipe. The goal is to pull out what's causing the blockage.
   • For a double sink, turn and pull the clothes hanger until you feel it catch on the gradient hole, which is the part that is narrower than the rest of the drain. Then, wiggle the wire up and down while twisting it to clear the blockage.
2. Vacuum the source of a drain blockage from the drain with a wet / dry vacuum cleaner. Set the vacuum cleaner on the wet setting, so that you can vacuum liquids safely, and set it on the highest suction power. Now hold it on the drain so that the power of the vacuum cleaner sucks the blockage out of the drain and into the vacuum cleaner. If this doesn't work, push the vacuum cleaner nozzle down the drain as far as it will go. Remember, you should not try this with a machine that is not designed for both wet and dry vacuuming.
   • Always cover the vacuum cleaner drain with a plastic container or bag to catch particles that are too small for the filter. If you don't, you risk a squirted mess from whatever comes out of the drain.
   • Close the drain with the head of an unblocker to direct the liquid from the drain directly into the vacuum cleaner. Remove the head of an unblocker from its stem, place it over the drain hole and insert the vacuum cleaner nozzle through the hole.
3. Unclog a sink or bath drain with a toilet drain cleaner. Place a toilet plunger on the clogged drain and push down gently to create a vacuum. After doing this, you actively push up and down while maintaining the vacuum. Stop when you see water flowing down the drain or hear that the blockage has loosened.
   • Never try this if you have used a chemical solvent such as Draino as you risk spraying it up and onto your skin.
   • Do not place the plunger in a corner, otherwise the vacuum may break.
   • If you don't have a toilet plunger, you may be able to break or loosen the blockage with a toilet cleaning brush.
   • Remove the plunger from the drain after pushing it in four or five times. Check if anything has come up. If so, remove it from the drain. If nothing is wrong, try again.

Method 2 of 4: Using household cleaners to unclog a drain

1. Flush the drain with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Start by flushing the drain with plenty of boiling water. Now mix 120 ml of boiling water with 120 ml of vinegar. Then pour 60 ml of baking soda on top of the drain and then pour the water and vinegar mixture over it - bubbles should come up from the drain. Let the mixture soak in the drain for at least one hour.
   • After the mixture has soaked, run hot tap water down the drain for 30 seconds to one minute.
   • Use this method on all drains - kitchens, bathtubs, sinks.
   • If this step doesn't work, you probably have a serious constipation. Try a different method.
2. Pour a mixture of salt, baking soda, and hot water down the drain. Mix 64 grams of normal table salt with 64 grams of baking soda in a measuring cup. Slowly pour that mixture down the drain and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. The chemical reaction should break down most of the clog.
   • After allowing the mixture to rest, flush the drain with hot water. The drain should be unclogged when you run the water.
   • Use this technique for any kind of drain.
3. Throw liquid dish soap and hot water into your toilet if it is clogged. Pour 60ml of any liquid dish soap into your toilet bowl. It should sink to the bottom as it is denser and heavier than water. Leave it alone for 20 to 30 minutes. Now fill a container with hot water and carefully pour it into the toilet bowl.
   • Be careful not to overflow the pot with hot water.
   • When you're done with this, use the drain unblocker to remove the blockage.

Method 3 of 4: Unclog a drain with a hose

1. Buy a plumber's drill, also known as a hose. A plumber's drill is a long, flexible, steel cable wrapped around a coil. The spool is attached to a crank handle. The drills are available up to 30m long, but a 7.5m model is ideal for standard household blockages.
   • Purchase a drill from a hardware store or DIY store.
2. Remove the gooseneck attached to the drain. The gooseneck is the U-shaped part of the pipe that connects the drain to the standard drain pipes. If you have a PVC plastic gooseneck, it will likely be held in place by a cylindrical swivel joint. This can be removed by turning it anti-clockwise by hand. If the model is held in place with bolts, remove them by turning them counterclockwise with pipe wrenches. After removing the gooseneck, put the water in it in a bucket and check that it isn't clogged.
   • Remove the horizontal tube attached to the gooseneck from the wall.
3. Remove the overflow plate to unclog the drain of a bath. The overflow plate is located just above the drain on the side of the bath, and under the faucet. It should be attached to the tub with two screws, so it can be removed with a standard Phillips screwdriver.
   • After removing the overflow plate, you should be able to access the overflow tube, which is the tube that you need to remove the blockage from.
4. Insert the hose into the drain or overflow tube and turn it when you feel resistance. Use about 18 inches of the plumber's drill bit for sinks and 1/2 inch for the overflow pipe of a bath. When the cable is unrolled, tighten the lock nut. Then turn the handle clockwise and push the cable into the tube. When you feel the hose slowing down or sticking to something, turn the handle counterclockwise and pull the drill back.
   • Keep pushing the cable into the tube and twisting it around until you clear the blockage.
   • When the blockage is cleared, retract the cable and replace the gooseneck or overflow plate in place.
5. Flush the drain and tube with water. Fill the sink or bath about half full with hot water. Place the plunger on the drain and push it up and down to remove the debris.
   • Keep filling the sink or tub with hot water until the water drains normally.

Method 4 of 4: Try commercial drain cleaners

1. Find a drain cleaner designed for your system. Go to the local hardware store, DIY store, or supermarket. There are two main types of plumbing pipes: galvanized metal and PVC. Older homes often have the first option, while modern homes have often switched to the second option. Make sure to check which pipes are on your drain and choose a product designed for this.
   • Strike the pipes with a wrench - galvanized steel will ring, while PVC will not. In addition, PVC often has copper shrink rings on the outside of the pipes to keep the pieces together.
   • If you have a septic tank, you will need to purchase product intended for use with such a system.
   • Talk to an employee and ask for recommendations for your specific blockage. Choose a product designed for the type of drain - bath, shower, sink or toilet.
   • Do not mix different chemicals.
2. Follow the instructions on the detergent packaging. Read the instructions on the detergent carefully and determine the recommended amount of the detergent and how long it should remain in the drain. Put on your safety equipment, such as eye protection and rubber gloves, and slowly pour the indicated amount from the bottle. Then wait as long as the manufacturer recommends. When this time has passed, flush the drain with hot water.
   • Do not let the drain cleaner come into contact with your pipes for longer than recommended.
   • Never let the drain cleaner come into contact with finished surfaces, such as plugs, faucets and drain edges.
   • Do not use a drain cleaner or other drain-opening tools after using a drain cleaner as you risk getting it on your skin.
   • If a drain cleaner doesn't work, call a professional plumber.
3. Wash your hands and the area thoroughly after using any chemical drain cleaner. Keep the drain cleaner away from your eyes and skin. For safety, wash your hands with cold water. Pour a generous amount of baking soda onto the surface of the sink, tub and surrounding areas and remove it by scrubbing thoroughly with a wet cloth. Then wipe off any remaining baking soda with a paper towel.
   • Keep the drain cleaner out of the reach of children, if you have one.

Tips

• Call a plumber if none of the above remedies the blockage.

Necessities

Use household tools to unclog a drain

• Iron wire clothes hanger
• Wet / dry vacuum cleaner
• Unblocker

Using household cleaners to unclog a drain

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• salt
• Dishwashing liquid
• Unblocker

Unclog a drain with a hose

• Plumber's drill
• Screwdriver
• Tang
• Adjustable wrench

Try commercial drain cleaners

• Drain cleaner
• Rubber gloves
• Plastic safety goggles