Dirty, clogged drains can cause foul odors and reduce the efficiency of your plumbing system. Luckily, preventive maintenance can eliminate these problems and keep your family healthy.
One simple, inexpensive method for keeping your drains clean is using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This is a great option for those looking to avoid harsh chemical cleaners. Contact Drain Cleaning Perth for professional help.
A clogged drain can be one of the most frustrating and inconvenient problems that can occur at home. The good news is that there are many DIY techniques to try before calling a plumber for help.
Shower and sink drains can become clogged with hair, soap scum, toothpaste, makeup, and other grooming products that we use on a daily basis. To keep this from happening, you should place a screen over your sink and shower drains. It can be removed when not in use, so it’s easy to keep hair and other debris from making its way down the drain.
Kitchen sinks often experience clogs from food particles, grease, and oil. This is because hot grease and oils can solidify over time, coating the inside of pipes and blocking water flow. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to wipe down your cookware after every use, and to dispose of fat and oil in a container in the trash.
Bathroom drains can also become clogged with hair, soap drippings, and other items that are flushed down the toilet. To prevent this from happening, you should always put a drain cover over your shower and bathtub, and consider using a hair catcher for the sink drain. It’s also a good idea to regularly flush your toilet with five gallons of hot water, which will remove built-up waste and keep it flowing freely.
If you’ve tried using a plunger and a drain snake but are still experiencing a clogged drain, it may be time to call a plumber for help. A professional plumber will be able to remove even the most stubborn drain blockages, using tools and techniques that are safe for your pipes.
A great DIY solution to a stubborn clogged drain is a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda is alkaline and vinegar is a mild acetic acid, which means they neutralize each other and can dislodge clogs that would otherwise be difficult to remove. To try this method, pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of distilled white vinegar. The reaction should cause a fizzing action that will break up and dislodge the clog. After the baking soda and vinegar solution has worked, simply flush the drain with hot water.
Clogged Toilets
Clogged toilets are a nuisance, but they’re also a health risk. If the clog isn’t resolved, waste may back up into your home, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and other contaminants. To prevent a clogged toilet, you can do several things to increase the flow of water and reduce the likelihood that something will get caught in the drain line.
A common cause of clogged toilets is flushing items that shouldn’t be flushed. It’s important to remind family members what belongs in the toilet and what should be thrown away in the trash. Keeping small trashcans in the bathroom can make it easy to keep non-flushable materials out of the toilet. You can also use a toilet auger, a tool that breaks up and sucks away clogged material.
If you can’t dislodge a clogged toilet with plunging and other DIY methods, try using a wet/dry vacuum. This is a special type of vacuum that can handle water and sewage. Find a long hose that can fit into the toilet and push it into the bowl, making sure to create a seal around the drain hole. Coil an old towel around the hose to absorb any splashes. Turn on the vacuum and move it down the drain, breaking up any clogged materials and sucking them out of the toilet.
If this doesn’t work, a chemical drain cleaner can help clear a clogged toilet. This is available at most hardware stores and comes in a variety of strengths. Follow the instructions on the package to decide which product is best for your situation.
Another option is to buy a drain snake, which can be used for all types of pipes. These devices are useful for getting rid of stubborn clogs and can be bought for as little as $20.
If your toilet is constantly clogged, it’s time to call for professional help. These professionals can clean your entire plumbing system to prevent future problems. They can also install new parts to make your toilet more efficient and repair any damage. If a clogged toilet has caused a leak, it’s even more important to call for help.
Clogged Sinks
Nothing puts a damper on dinner or your morning shower like a sink drain that won’t open. Luckily, most clogs are easy to handle with simple at-home solutions that won’t damage your pipes.
First, remove any standing water from the sink and plug it to prevent further buildup. Clearing the water will make it easier to plunge the clogged drain.
Baking soda is a kitchen staple with the power to dissolve mineral deposits and organic materials like grease. It also has slight disinfectant properties that combat odor-causing bacteria. Sprinkle baking soda into the sink drain and wait 15 minutes before flushing with hot water. Repeat as needed. If your clog is particularly stubborn, try adding a bit of grease-fighting dish soap into the mix.
Another simple at-home clog cleaner is salt and baking soda. Remove any standing water from the sink, then pour in equal parts of salt and baking soda. The reaction should create a burst of bubbles that cut through the clog and help to dislodge it. After the mixture stops bubbling, pour in a cup of boiling water to clean away any remaining solution and to flush out the pipes.
Grease-fighting dish soap is also effective against greasy, slow-draining sinks. Pour a small amount of the soap into the drain, then follow with a cup of boiling water. If the clog persists, try using a clog-specific product like Liquid-Plumr’s Pro-Strength Clog Destroyer Gel. This thick formula is specifically formulated to break up and dissolve grease and other stubborn clogs without damaging your pipes.
If none of these fixes work, call a plumber. If the clog is farther down in your pipes, it may require professional tools to unclog. Avoid using harsh chemical drain cleaners, which can eat through your pipes and lead to leaks. They are also very dangerous for kids and pets, who might mistake them for food. If the clog is caused by tree roots, it may be best to contact a plumber for professional help. Getting to the root of the problem will take time and patience, but it is well worth it in the long run.
Clogged Showers
Shower drains are prone to clogging due to the use of body washes, exfoliants, hair products and other personal care items. These products often contain ingredients that can be corrosive to pipes, so using them regularly can lead to blockages over time. Aside from these products, clogged shower drains can also result from soap scum and hair that is washed down the drain during showers.
Persistent clogs that aren’t easily resolved by DIY methods may require professional help. This is especially true when the clog involves more than just one drain or if it occurs in other areas of the home, such as a toilet or kitchen sink.
If you have a slow-draining or completely blocked shower drain, the first step is to remove and inspect the drain cover. You might need a flashlight or use a tool like a wire hanger with a hook on end to fish out hair, soap scum and other debris that might be caught on the drain cover.
Next, pour boiling water down the drain. This can break up a minor clog and loosen grime so that it can be flushed away. Be sure to wear gloves for this task, as the hot water might be too harsh for your skin.
For more serious clogs, you can try a plunger to manually dislodge the clog. Be sure that you have enough water in the kettle to cover the plunger’s cup for best results. You can also try a bio-enzymatic drain cleaner, which will naturally break down organic materials that clog your pipes.
Another good DIY solution is to combine baking soda and vinegar to create a chemical reaction that can dissolve a stubborn soap scum or hair clog. To do this, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by an equal amount of white vinegar. Let the mixture fizz for a few minutes, then flush with hot water. This method is effective for most shower clogs but won’t work for standing water clogs that require a more robust solution.
