Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Remove odors and deposits
• Method 2 of 4: Clear blockages
• Method 3 of 4: Clear deep blockages with an auger
• Method 4 of 4: Prevent new blockages, odors and deposits
• Warnings

Clogging a drain can quickly lead to bad smells and annoyance. Clean the drains regularly to remove odors and deposits from organic residues that can lead to blockages. If you find that the water is no longer draining properly, you can use a quick DIY fix to get your sink up and running in no time. You can also take measures to prevent odors and blockages in any case.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Remove odors and deposits

1. Treat your drain with white vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. This eliminates odors caused by bacterial deposits, grease and organic residues in your drain. It also helps clean up residue to avoid any potential blockages. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Cover or seal the drain immediately and let the mixture work for about 15 minutes. Then boil some water in a kettle or saucepan and pour the boiling water down the drain.
   • A solution of baking soda and vinegar can also be used to remove stains and mineral deposits from around the outside of the drain.
2. Treat dirty drains with a biological cleaner. Regular preventative treatments can keep your drain smelling good, remove potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, and prevent possible blockages. Organic or enzymatic drain cleaners, such as Zep or Citra Solv, are relatively safe and environmentally friendly. They are also safer for septic tanks than most chemical cleaners. Follow the packaging instructions for treating a drain to remove odors and deposits.
3. Scrub a smelly garbage disposer with ice, salt, and lemon zest. If you have a waste processor that works well but smells bad, it probably means that organic residues and bacteria have accumulated on the grinder blades. Fill the container with a few cups of ice cubes, a handful of salt and a few lemon zest. Let it grind this mixture a little to remove the tarnish with this "abrasive" that will not damage the steel grinding blades.

Method 2 of 4: Clear blockages

1. Use an unblocker to remove a blockage. Uncloggers are great for unclogging toilets, but they also work well on clogged sinks and tubs. Fill the sink or tub with enough water to cover the drain and bottom. Firmly push the plunger down over the drain to create a tight seal and pump several times.
   • Bellows drain cleaners probably work best.
   • With a double sink, you must first close one of the drains with a drain plug or a washcloth before unclogging to create a complete seal.
   • Provide a separate drain cleaner for the toilet.
   • You can also use a wet or dry vacuum hose to suck the blockage out of the drain.
2. Use a barbed plastic drain cleaner. Barbed drain cleaners are a great solution for blockages at the drain opening. Slide the tool down the drain and pull it out. The backward-facing barbs pull out hair and other materials that have accumulated in your drain.
3. Use a compressed air or water powered cleaner to blow out any blockages. Compressed air cleaners can spray blockages from a drain with compressed air or gas. Water blowers use pressurized water to achieve the same result.
   • If you opt for a compressed air-controlled drain cleaner, you have to make sure that the device fits well over the drain. You may need to use an adapter. If you don't make a good seal, the discharge could be directed towards you instead of down the drain.
   • Water-based drain cleaning devices usually attach to a garden hose, but you can probably purchase an adapter to attach it to an indoor faucet.
4. Use a heating pad to melt fat blockages. Wrap a heating pad around the siphon tube under the sink. Turn on the heating pad to warm up the tube and run hot water down the drain until the grease is gone. Add a little dish soap to dissolve the grease.
5. Treat the attack biologically. Use an enzymatic or bacterial drain cleaner regularly overnight for slow-running or partially clogged drains. Follow the directions on the package.
   • Organic cleaning agents are slower and less effective than chemical cleaning agents, but they are safer for you, the sanitary facilities and the environment.
   • Organic cleaners probably need to be used multiple times to be effective.
6. Contact a plumber. If the aforementioned methods fail, or if you are unsure that you can safely fix the problem yourself, contact a professional to unclog the clogged drain. If you live in a rental property, contact your landlord or property manager so he or she will call someone for you.

Method 3 of 4: Clear deep blockages with an auger

1. Buy an inexpensive cable auger or unclogging spring. Augers are ideal for clearing deep blockages that are otherwise inaccessible. If you don't want to buy one, you may be able to rent one from a construction store. While the coiled cables are available in many lengths, a 7.5 meter cable should be sufficient for most household jobs.
   • You should also purchase rubber gloves with a good grip and wear safety glasses, especially if you have recently used harsh drain line cleaning products.
2. Remove the gooseneck under the sink, if necessary. Some sinks have a built-in strainer that you may have to bypass to get to the clog. The gooseneck is an S-shaped pipe under the sink. Some goosenecks can be removed by hand, but if this is not possible, you can probably remove them with a wrench or pliers. Have a bucket nearby to catch the water that will run out of the pipe after you remove it.
3. Slowly push the auger cable or hose into the opening in the line. Once it's in a few inches, turn the handle on the auger while pushing the spool firmly into the line. The auger will slowly go deeper into the line until it hits the obstruction.
   • You may have to wiggle the auger cable a bit if the line has tight bends, or twist the crank a bit more to get it through.
4. Continue to turn the auger until you feel resistance. If the auger cable encounters a blockage that is too large or too strong to break, it will not turn. Rotate the handle a few more times to secure the cable in the blockage, then move it gently to release the blockage.
5. Turn the crank the other way to pull the auger out of the line. If you manage to insert the auger into the blockage, the blockage should come out with the cable. Clean the debris from the end of the auger and discard it.
6. Test the drain and repeat the process if necessary. Run a little water into the sink or tub and check that it drains properly. If not, run the auger through the lines a second time and repeat if necessary until the drain is unclogged.

Method 4 of 4: Prevent new blockages, odors and deposits

1. Use a drainage net to prevent blockages. Drains allow water and small particles to flow down the drain while preventing hair, soap scum and large food scraps from passing through. Use drains when bathing or showering and in your sink when washing the dishes.
2. Keep grease out of the drain. Grease can gradually build up in the pipes, causing blockages and foul odors, and can even cause worse problems outside your home, such as sewer blockage. Never pour shortening down the drain. Wipe oily dishes with kitchen paper before washing them, and use plenty of warm water and dish soap to remove any residual grease.
3. Perform maintenance cleaning on drains and plugs. Once a week, pour a few liters of boiling water down the sink drain as part of your regular cleaning routine. Regularly clean the built-in sink plugs, which will become clogged with dirt and clogging items such as hair.

Warnings

• Do not use a chemical drain cleaner on a clogged drain, especially in standing water, as you will end up with a pool of dangerous rather than just gross blockages that will make the next steps with more effective mechanical tools dangerous.
• Too much pressure from an unblocker or air pressure-based drain cleaner can damage the drain or pipes. If you have repeatedly tried to clear a blockage to no avail, contact a plumber who can remove the blockage without damaging the pipes.
• Chemical drain opener is generally not recommended for septic tanks as it will kill their beneficial bacteria.