Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
How Do You Get Rid Of A Slow Bathtub Drain Naturally
The water needs to be removed from the tub. The first cup of baking soda should be poured down the drain. Wait for 15 minutes until the frothing stops. To see if the problem is solved, flush the drain with one liter of boiling water. If the solution is still not working, you may need to add more water or vinegar to get it to work.
Navigate Any Bends In The Pipe
If the blockage is a long way down the pipe, you will probably have to negotiate a bend or two. You will know when you come to a bend because the snake will hit something hard and wont go any further.
To get around a bend, keep turning it gently and try to coax it into the bend. Once you manage to get it to go past the bend, continue feeding it into the drain.
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How To Unclog A Shower Drain Using Chemicals
- Read and follow the directions on the packaging, including the correct amount of the product to use. The amount you use will vary.
- Use gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes.
- Don’t combine different chemicals, as this can create poisonous gas.
- Pour chemicals down the drain opening.
Note: Chemicals should not be treated lightly. They can cause damage to your drainage pipes, especially if used repeatedly. However, using chemicals is typically a fast, straightforward, and affordable method with a fairly high success rate in my experience. You can reduce the need for chemicals by preventing future blockages from occurring !
Covering The Drain Cleaner Basics
Dedicated drain cleaners do exist on the market, but theyre harsh on the environment and can even corrode the pipes if overused. Its more cost-effective and often simply more effective in general to mix your own cleaners.
The very first step before you start mixing chemicals is to simply lift up the drain cover. Often unsavory items will become lodged underneath here, stopping the flow of water. unclogging a slow bathtub can be as simple as clearing away this debris.
If the problem goes slightly deeper, another low-tech option is to use a plunger. Simply drain out the water, place the plunger over the plug-hole and pump it about ten times. You should hear the sound of the pressure being released, signaling that air is passing through the pipe.
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Soda Soft Drinks And Hot Water
An unusual and effective clog-clearing method is pouring soda soft drinks down the drain. Name-brand soft drinks contain carbonated and acidic ingredients such as phosphorus acid that can corrode clogs in the drain.
Pour a room-temperature 2-liter soft drink down the drain slowly and let it sit for two hours. Then, run the hot water from the tap.
Avoid diet or light versions of soft drinks as they don’t have enough ingredients to fight clogs.
Baking Soda And Boiling Water
A third home remedy for clogged drains is baking soda and boiling water. The baking soda removes odors and loosens tough clogs.
Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain first. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. Next, slowly pour the hot water down the drain to clear the baking soda and the broken clogs.
Again, skip this method if boiling water is not suitable for your pipes.
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Be Careful When Throwing Things Into The Sink
The best way of avoiding clogged drains is to think before throwing things down the drain.
In the kitchen, avoid throwing things like potato skins, coffee grounds, eggshells, and cooking oil. In the bathroom, avoid flushing out hair, as it can easily cause a drain blockage. Paint thinner is particularly notorious in this regard do not dump it or you will have a clogged drain.
Make sure to always use a drain gate cover. Although simple, these items can prevent a lot of blockages.
Go to your local store and get all the essential stuff youll need to properly protect your drains, such as filters and screens. Regular cleaning is just as important smaller clogs are easier to take care of than the more serious ones.
The most common causes of clogged drains, depending on the location of the drains, are:
- Oil, grease, fat
- Too much toilet paper
Note that the buildup on the insides of pipes often catches food particles, hair, and small debris. Therefore, while the things that go down the drain in a single flush arent enough to create a clog, they can get stuck and attract more of the same. Eventually, this will result in a clogged pipe.
How To Unclog A Bathtub Drain
Prevention is often better than cure. If you find your bathtub is constantly getting clogged, then make a few changes to stop it happening again, says David Cruz, plumbing expert at MyJobQuote . A simple strainer will prevent hair clogging the drain. And regular drain cleaning with a ready-made cleaner or even just hot water can help keep soap residue at bay. Its worth adopting the same tactics to avoid the need to unclog a sink, too.
If you are currently experiencing a blocked bathtub, the experts recommend simple bathroom cleaning tips are often the best way to deal with the problem. Heres how to unclog a bathtub in five steps weve ordered them by ease, so work through step-by-step until your bath empties in a timely manner.
You will need:
- Pluming snake )
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Clearing Clogs With A Plunger And Hook
Mixtures Containing Baking Or Washing Soda
Both sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate can eradicate any type of dirt!
- Baking soda and vinegar mixed together result in a perfect combination thatll make water run down your pipe smoothly again! Solely pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain followed by the same amount of vinegar, leave it to react overnight and then flush it with hot water in the morning!
- Baking soda and salt could also do the trick. Pour one cup of baking soda first, then one cup of salt, let it stay overnight and finish off by rinsing the drain with boiling water in the morning!You can also pour a solution containing baking soda, salt and hot water in the ratio of 1:1:4 respectively and then rinse the drain with hot water as soon as you get up!
- Washing soda and hot water can also make for a powerful clog remover! Just mix them in equal amounts and then pour the liquid down the drain leaving it to sit overnight and perform the flushing in the morning!
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Clogged Drain Home Remedy Truth Or Myth
When you encounter a clogged drain pipe, you may think that you are doomed and that you will have to call a plumber and spend some money on cleaning and repairing the drain, but in reality, you can do that by yourself. You just need to know how, and we will teach you right now!
There are several effective ways to do this, which are considered the most common home solutions for a jammed drain.
Baking Soda Vinegar Salt And Boiling Water
All online articles mention some of these four ingredients as part of a home remedy for clogged drains. These household powerhouses are safe for pipes in both the kitchen and bathroom. Consider these items the liquid drain cleaner without the harsh chemicals, and use the home remedy to prevent drain clogs once a week.
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Powerful Ways To Unclog A Drain Naturally: Best Homemade Drain Cleaners
By James Mora | Last Updated on April 8, 2022
A clogged drain is an extremely common issue that you want to resolve fast and effectively. You can find many drain cleaners on the market that are pretty powerful, however, their effectiveness usually comes at a cost: they contain strong chemicals that are potentially harmful to the environment and your family as well.
What if you want to unclog a drain naturally, in an eco-friendly way? The good news is that you dont have to give up being green if you want to clean your drain: there are some highly effective homemade uncloggers that will do an amazing job when applied properly.
Note that while its true that there are many methods out there, only a few of them will deliver acceptable results. I know because Ive tried most of them. In this article, Ill share with you the most effective natural ways you can make your drain work again.
Lets dive in:
What Can Induce A Clogged Drain
Before plunging into the problem solving, you need to figure out what is the actual cause of it. There are several possible reasons which can cause pipe clogging. Some are more common for sink drains, other for shower drains.
Let us talk about what can cause the sink drains first. One of the most common causes is lard from the dishes. Sometimes, especially while you are washing dishes, lard can squeeze into the drain, where it can pile up and eventually lead to jamming the entire pipe.
Another cause is the food remnants. The food pieces can also end up in the sink drain and jam the pipe unless you throw them somewhere instead.
If we talk about shower drain, things are a bit different, mostly because you would almost never keep food remains in your bathtub.
Oftentimes, the cause of shower drain clogging is hair. Yes, hair is pretty nasty. It can get almost anywhere, which is very frustrating at the times. It tends to pile up inside the drain and jam it.
Another possible cause of shower drain clogging is suds, which is left after we have had a shower. Thats why you should always scatter it with the water after you are done bathing.
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Add Baking Soda And Vinegar
Cleaning with vinegar and baking soda is a good way to clear a blockage in a bathtub drain.
Baking soda and white vinegar are a great home remedy for unclogging a bathtub drain. Pour some bicarbonate soda into the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes before pouring white vinegar down the drain, says Trinity Owhe, Design Expert, Victorian Plumbing.
The chemical reaction that occurs creates a strong foam-like substance that might dislodge any blockages and will also help neutralize unpleasant odors. Once the mixture stops fizzing be sure to rinse this away with water, she adds.
Clearing A Clogged Vent Pipe
If a tub continues to drain slowly even after the basic cleaning described above, the problem might be caused by a clogged vent pipe.
Vent pipes extend through the roof and are open to the atmosphere, equalizing pressure in drain lines so that a vacuum effect wont disrupt drainage. Because a vent pipe is open at the top, it can be clogged by sticks, leaves, and other debris. Blockages can also occur because of insects or animals.
If you suspect that a clogged vent is causing household plumbing to drain slowly, you can investigate just like a plumber would:
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How Do You Unclog A Shower Drain
Step 1:
Unclogging a shower drain is similar to how you unclog bathtub drains. Start by removing and cleaning the stopper and strainer and remove as much drain-clogging gunk that you can using a drain stick or a snake.
Step 2:
Then, use Liquid-Plumr® Clog Destroyer Plus+ Pipeguard. When used as directed, this formula dissolves the toughest drain clogs, eliminates drain odors and helps prevent future clogs with regular use. This drain cleaner is safe to use to unclog bathtubs, show drains and other bathroom drains.
Step 3:
After you think the drain clog is gone, flush the drain with hot water to make sure its unclogged. Turn on the faucet to see if water drains quickly and easily. If there is still a drain clog, repeat the steps for removing it.
If the bathtub or shower clogs persists, it may be time to call in a professional plumber. For more information, check out our article How to Know When to Leave it to the Pros.
And, try pouring two cups of Liquid-Plumr® Clog Destroyer Plus+ Pipeguard down your drain monthly to prevent slow draining showers .
Everything You Need Is Likely Right In The Bathroom
Again, you’ll need just three supplies that can be found in almost any bathroom: soap, hot water and a vessel for transferring water to the toilet bowl. Dish soap, hot bathwater and a 5-gallon bucket work best, but if secrecy is paramount and leaving the lavatory would blow your cover, a few pumps from a hand soap dispenser and some hot sink water in a small plastic waste bin will do just fine.
First, get the water in the sink or tub running hot — like, as hot as it will get. Don’t outdo yourself — no need to boil any water. At those temperatures, you could crack the porcelain or worse, injure yourself. Just let the tap water get as hot as it can and you’ll be within range.
While you’re waiting for hot water, go ahead and clear everything off the floor — scales, bathmats… pets. You’re going to be very careful to avoid any spills, of course, but better to be safe than soggy.
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Natural Homemade Drain Cleaners That Actually Work
It happens to everyone, but it can be embarrassing when you have house guests, and dirty water backs up in your sink or tub.
You may feel conflicted because you dont want harsh chemicals in your home but you want clear drains, so use non-toxic products.
We have solutions and tips to help keep your home drains toxic free and clean!
Going Green is the thing these days!
Green enthusiasts are taking thoughtful strides toward an eco-friendly environment.
So how does this work with household issues like clogged drains? Home remedies of course!
Slow Draining Bathtub Home Remedies
Baking Soda and Vinegar Drain Unplug Remedy
If neither of these fixes the problem, the most popular and enduring option is the combination of baking soda and white vinegar, often with a bit of table salt thrown into the mix. The individual chemicals of the soda and vinegar react, creating a powerful carbon dioxide gas that scours whatever it touches. The salt is thrown in for a bit of extra scraping power but isnt completely necessary.
Take one cup of baking soda, one cup of vinegar, and one of salt, if you want some extra power, and make sure theres no water in the tub. Dump the baking soda into the drain, followed by the salt, and finally the vinegar. If everything goes to plan, you should see a lot of froth satisfying, if nothing else. This signals that the mixture is scouring the inside of the pipe and hopefully eating away at the blockage. Give it around ten minutes, then flush it out with boiling water and test the tub to see if it drains.
Another popular option involves using the aforementioned baking soda and vinegar combo, but immediately afterward plugging up the tub and filling it with water. You can then release the water, which will flood down the pipe at once, and clear away any of the blockages that remain using sheer pressure.
Using a Plumbing Snake
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