A clogged drain is a problem that a lot of people underestimate. It is a right nuisance, if not dealt with immediately, because it holds up work in the house, and makes your living conditions practically unbearable. It is important to learn about the home remedies for clogged drain so that you don’t have to wait for a plumber every time to do the job for you.
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Unclogging a drain can be a gross task if you try to do it by hand. However, calling a plumber would also entail opening up your entire piping system, which is a huge hassle to bear when you have to get things done fast. Your drain can get clogged because of various reasons. One of the most common causes of course, is your kitchen sink, where you wash your plates and your hands and a lot of other things. The smaller particles slip through the pores in the drain and get stuck along the lining of the pipe, causing the drains to get clogged.
Other pipes in the house also carry water which contains things like hair, soap and other particles which can cause your drain to clog. Dirt, moss and other tiny particles which accumulate inside the pipes over a course of time can also lead to your drain becoming clogged.
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Like I said before, calling a plumber or cleaning your drain by hand can both be difficult. Before you try either, you can check out these easy home remedies for clogged drain, which can help solve the problem in no time. In case these home remedies fail to work (under highly unlikely circumstances) then you can look for other methods of unclogging your drain.
1. Coca Cola
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This might sound like a strange home remedy for a clogged drain, but it is one of the most effective, according to popular opinion. A lot of people have successfully used Coca-cola to unclog their drains. The acidic and carbonated nature of the drink helps to loosen the dirt and the grime from the walls of the pipe.
The best way to use Coke is by pouring a liter of the soda down the drain and let it soak overnight. In the morning, pour another liter of boiling water into your drains and you won’t see any more water accumulating in your sink or your bathtub, or wherever else your drain has become clogged.
2. Plunger
A plunger is a basic household item that everyone should have in case of emergencies such as these. Plungers may sound simplistic, but they are actually super effective when it comes to unclogging your drains. Although most people use it to unclog their toilets, they work just as effectively when you have to unclog your kitchen sink or bathtub or any other point of drainage.
Plungers work on the principle of suction and air pressure. When you jerk the plunger on the clogged drain, the air pressure that is created between the pipe and the rubber loosens the grime and the dirt and clears the drain. You have to pour boiling water down the drain after using the plunger, so that the grime is washed away.
3. Baking soda and vinegar
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Baking soda is a great home remedy when you want to unclog your drain, without dismantling your entire piping system and getting filth on your hands. Baking soda mixed with white vinegar creates a great remedy for clogged drains without getting your hands dirty.
White vinegar has natural acidic properties, which clears the dirt without harming the material of your pipes, or chipping the color of your sink or bathtub. Simply pour a large packet of baking soda directly on the drain and wash that down with a cup of white vinegar. You can also mix the two from beforehand and pour it into your drain. After half an hour, wash it away with boiling water to have a clean, free-flowing drain.
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4. A bent wire hanger
If you don’t have professional plumbing equipment in your house (who does, duh) then you can use a wire hanger. Twist the wire into a hook like shape, and use the holder of the hanger to probe your drain and get all the filth and the gunk out. The sharp metallic edges of the wire will be able to scrape out the side effectively, and you won’t have to pay the plumber for a simple job like this.
Even though this requires that you get your hands dirty, it is a rather effective way of cleaning out your drain without waiting.
5. Boiling water
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Sometimes, clogged drains can also be caused by grease, oil and other substances which build up in layers of over time. This reduces the surface area of your pipes, and prevents water from flowing as easily as it should be able to. If the problem is as simple as this, then you don’t have to get a professional to clean out your system. Simple boil 2-3 liters of water till it is bubbling thoroughly and pour it down the drain.
When you are pouring boiling water, make sure that you aim directly at the drain, and spill the least amount. This will loosen the grime and the grease and after a while, when you let the tap run, the water will wash away the loose residue.
6. Salt and baking soda
Home remedies should essentially be easy, and use things which you can find around the house easily. In case of a clogged drain too, you can solve the problem using items which you can find at home at all times. This includes salt and baking soda, which combined can clean out your drain super fast.
Combine one part salt and one part baking soda and pour it down the drain. After letting the salt and baking soda work their magic, pour boiling water down the drain. Salt absorbs all the greasy and grimy stuff, while any solid material clogging your drain is loosened and emptied out by the baking soda. Finally, the boiling water washed it all away, leaving your drain clean and ready for undisrupted use.
7. Lemon water
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Lemon is a wonderful kitchen ingredient which has a number of health benefits, and can also help in solving your clogged drain problem. Lemon contains Vitamin C, which is acidic in nature. Lemon also has important natural compounds which loosens substances like oil and grime from the sides of the pipe.
Even though you can pour lemon water down the drain from time to time, of the condition is really bad, you can use concentrate lemon juice. Extract the juice of 3-4 lemons and pour it down the drain. Wash it off with boiling water after half an hour. This will not only get rid of the scum which is blocking your drains, but also leave behind a fresh aroma, which gets rid of any germs and bacteria as well.
8. Soapy water
Soap has compounds and fragrances which are especially crafted to get rid of the filth and the scum, whether it is from the body, from utensils, or from clogged drains. The liquid soap which is used in the cleaning of utensils is especially potent, which is why you should dishwashing soap when you are trying to clean out your drains.
Dilute a substantial amount of dishwashing liquid in warm water and pour it down the drain. If possible, shake the water so that it becomes partially foamy which makes it more effective against your problem. Let the drain soak in the soap water for an hour or so. Wash the drain with boiling water after an hour, so that the soap washes away, leaving a squeaky clean and unclogged surface area inside the pipes.
9. Citrus peels and vinegar
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As I have mentioned above, vinegar is a natural acidic compound which has the ability to clear out your drain naturally without harming the material. However, you can make white vinegar even more potent by infusing it with citrus peels. Citrus peel consists of the peels of fruits like orange, lemon and other citrus fruits, which contain cells which are loaded with the concentrated essence of the fruit. These small pockets of perfumed substances also contain Vitamin C which can help clean out your drain more effectively and leave a pleasant smell.
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Stuff citrus peel into a mason jar and pour vinegar into it. You can store this for several weeks and use it whenever required. When your drain gets clogged, pour baking soda down the drain and wash it down with the citrus-vinegar mix. After it has soaked for a couple of hours, wash it off, as usual, with boiling water to leave a sparkling, unclogged drain behind.
In order to avoid any unforeseen disasters, you should use these home remedies for clogged drain even when your drain isn’t really clogged. Cleaning your drain on a regular basis can help keep your drain clean and functional forever, instead of having to unclog a filthy, impenetrable drain.
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