Having a clogged drain can be a huge inconvenience. For one thing, it prevents you from using your kitchen or bathroom properly, which means you’ll have a hard time preparing your food or doing hygiene activities. It also exposes you to a wide range of bacteria and other kinds of germs since dirty water won’t be able to flow out of your home and will instead provide a haven for microorganisms.
Fortunately, there are ways to fix a clogged drain, and one of these is to use some of the things you have lying around your house. That’s right: more often than not, household objects can effectively help you remove clogs and keep your bathroom and kitchen in good shape. Some of these items include:
1. Vinegar, Baking Soda, And Salt
These are some of best materials to use when unclogging a drain because 1) they’re natural and won’t harm the environment and 2) they’re most likely already in your kitchen and are within easy reach. To use these materials, simply pour one cup of baking soda down into the drain (push the powder in if your drain is too clogged) and pour the one cup of vinegar afterwards. Doing these will create a chemical reaction that help dissolve whatever is clogging up your system.
Another technique you can use is to mix a half cup of salt with one cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Leave it alone overnight so the materials will have time to work on the clog. The next day, pour a couple of cups of hot boiling water and see if the clog is dislodged.
2. A Bowl Or a Cup
If your sink is clogged and has standing water in it, you can use a bowl or a cup to bail out the water (make sure to wear a pair of rubber gloves when doing so). Once your sink is empty, you can then pour baking soda down the drain and follow it up with vinegar. Don’t forget to discard the bowl or cup afterward to ensure you won’t accidentally use it for food or drinks.
3. A Plunger
You probably already have one in your supplies closet, so get it out and start pumping. Position it in a way that it completely covers the drain and, holding it upright, give it around ten vigorous pumps. Once you’re done, take out the plunger to see if the water can now flow through the drain; if the clog is still there, resume pumping until it becomes dislodged.
Remember that your plunger will work better if it’s surrounded by liquid so, if your drain doesn’t have standing water, add hot water to ensure your plunger functions properly.
4. A Wire Hanger
If you have metal wire hangers in your closet, get one and unbend it to form a straight piece of metal. Once you’re done, push the wire through your drain until it meets resistance. You can pull up the wire to try bringing up the clog along with it; if this doesn’t work, push the wire down so the clogged item goes through your pipes.
Use these household items now and see how they can help you unclog a drain.