Clogged drains are one of the most common issues in any domestic home, but despite this, they can be incredibly difficult to resolve.
This depends largely on the extent of the problem in hand, of course, while clogged drains can refer to everything from small blockages in internal pipework to more complex complications with larger, external drains.
The good news is that blocked pipes and clogged internal drainage systems can sometimes be dealt with individually. But what are the most effective ways of unclogging your drain?
With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Once you’ve unclogged your drain, you can consider using an industrial drain cleaner product to remove any stubborn and remaining debris.
However, this may not be the best way to remove an initial blockage, with non-chemical options such as the combination of baking soda and vinegar arguably safer and more effective.
This combines one part baking soda and one part vinegar (along with some warm water), and you should look to pour this immediately down the drain as the mixture starts to fizz.
Interestingly, it’s the fizzing action that actively removes the clogged hair and grime so effectively, and you simply need to let the mixture sit for an hour before flushing it out with hot water.
With Baking Soda and Salt
Another effective (and similar) combination is baking soda and salt, with the most effective recipe featuring half a cup of each ingredient.
You can then feed this dry mixture into the affected drain, before waiting for 15 minutes and pouring a jug of boiling water to create a pretty robust and effective chemical reaction.
This can help to aggressively clean pipes and unblock some of the toughest bathroom sink stoppages, so you should definitely try this if you’re having issues clearing your drain.
With a Wet and Dry Vacuum
A wet and dry shop vacuum is another effective way of dealing with noticeably stubborn blockages, although you may need to create a bespoke seal for the house to effectively suction out the offending items.
Then, set your vacuum to the highest liquids setting and let the appliance do the rest, with the powerful suction performance hopefully capable of dislodging whatever is clogging up your pipes.
With a Wire Hanger
Last, but not least, we come to one of the most traditional and tried-and-tested ways of unclogging a drain. We’re referring to the good old wire hanger, which is widely accessible and can be used to unblock your pipes in an emergency.
Quite simply, you need to untangle the hanger to create a long and thin point, which can then be immersed into the sink or toilet bowl to manually dislodge debris.
This can be deceptively effective, but you should note that it’s also far messier than the options above. To this end, you may need pliers to help bend and manipulate the wire, along with a large enough container to catch any excess water that may flow during the process.
We’d also recommend wearing rubber gloves, particularly when unclogging toilets or bathroom pipes.