A clogged drain can ruin your day. What if you’re in a hurry to go to work then you notice a puddle of water in your shower area or bathroom sink; and worse, your toilet? Some clogs can mean underlying problems in your plumbing system, which means you’ll need to call a drain cleaning service around your area in St. George. But there are also clogs you can work on independently.
Here are some easy ways to unclog your kitchen or bathroom drains:
1. Dish detergent
Pour ¼ cup of dish detergent in a bowl to break down the greasy residue. The pour hot water. Flush the toilet or use a plunger to clean the drain. This is the easiest and quickest solution to fix a clogged toilet.
2. Boiling water
Remove the standing water from the sink. Then slowly pour the boiling water into the drain. You may also pour salt down the drain, followed by the boiling water. Let this mixture sit for a while to let the hot water do its job. You may also repeat the procedure twice or thrice before the final flush to clear the drain.
3. Vinegar and baking soda
Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by the same amount of vinegar. You will hear a fizzing sound. Let the mixture sit from 45 minutes to an hour to allow the mixture to dissolve the grime and other residues that have built up in the pipe. Then flush or pour hot water to clear the drain. In relation to that, you may also use salt instead of vinegar. The mixture will give the same result.
4. Caustic soda
Mix ¾ gallon of cold water and three cups of caustic soda in a bucket. Then stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. Don’t forget to use rubber gloves and eye protection while doing so, because caustic soda can burn your skin. Pour the mixture into the clogged drain and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Flush the drain with hot water. Repeat the procedure when needed.
5. Wire hanger
Get a wire coat hanger and straighten it out. Bend one end to create a small hook. Insert the hanger down the drain and fish out all the hair and other gunk. Do it slowly and carefully so as not to push the blockage farther down. Your goal is to pull out the nasty stuff.
6. Drain snake
This long, flexible tool has a spiral metal at the end. Just insert it into the drain to remove the builup and clear the clog.
7. Clean the P-trap
Place an empty bucket under the sink then unfasten the p-trap. The bucket will collect the water that will spill. Remove the trap and clean it well. Use an old toothbrush to clear out the debris. Rinse it with water then put the trap back. You may also use a straightened wire coat hanger to clear the area past the trap.
If no technique seems to work and you’re still left with slow drains and pools of water around your bathrooms and kitchens, then it’s time to call a plumber.
