How to Unclog Stubborn Drains in Your Home

Within our homes, there will always seem to be a never-ending list of tasks to complete. From organizing your belongings to cleaning up your rooms, every homeowner must do these activities. Sometimes, you’ll have to get a bit more meticulous with your cleaning methods. That is because the appliances in your home require a detailed inspection.

The drains can easily become clogged from the washing machines in your basement to your shower or sink. If you do not take immediate action, the situation will become much more difficult for you to fix. Once you begin to notice a faulty drain in action, it is time to put your hands to work. Of course, there are times when even your best efforts cannot unclog those drains. Call a professional drain cleaning plumber to diagnose the situation right away. Make sure you take immediate action so that the issue does not grow in size down the line. Use these tips to bring the clogged drain back to its normal condition:

Protective Equipment

Like any cleaning job within your home, you’ll always want to take the proper precautions when safeguarding yourself. As a result, you’ll want to wear the right protective equipment, as well as have the right tools on hand. Failure to do this will result not just in an incomplete job, but you may cause potential harm to yourself! For starters, rubber gloves should always be worn so that your hands do not become damaged. If the drain is especially clogged with various impediments, make sure to wear eye goggles. In the event that anything sprays out of the drain, you’ll want your vision to be properly shielded.

Tools to Use

Unclogging your drain might not seem like you will need a lot of tools. However, the ones you will be needing will be important for all parts of the process. In essence, you will require the aforementioned protective equipment to protect your body and face. Next, be sure to get your hands on eco-friendly cleaning materials. A great homemade solution to make involves the combination of vinegar and baking soda alongside boiling water. Don’t forget to get materials that you will use to tidy up after the drain has been unclogged. From mops to old rags, these tools will all be vital to have on deck.

Plunger

Just because there are multiple methods to unclog your drain doesn’t mean that you should ignore the classic approaches. If the drain in question is within your toilet, you might just need to use the good old plunger. With this tool behind you, all it takes is a few, proactive pumps to unclog the drain. First, position the plunger over the drain, ensuring that you cover the entire area. Then, pump the tool, using sharp motions in an up and down fashion. The more vigorous you are with the motion, the better chance you will have of unclogging the drain. After a few pumps, rinse the drain, and it should be back to a working condition.

Plumber’s Snake

If you don’t have a plunger nearby for your drain-related issues, there are other methods you can try. A plumber’s snake is probably the second most common solution when trying to unclog a drain. Essentially, it allows you to get rid of clogs in your drain that are beyond your line of sight. Before you place the snake all the way down the drain, remove the drain trap to kickstart the process. This will allow you to comprehensively clean the entire drain, once the snake is put to use. Apply pressure using the drain, but not too much to the point where the tool becomes bent. Extract the clog, and then reassemble the drain trap.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

As mentioned previously, there are multiple eco-friendly materials that you can use for unclogging the drain. Baking soda and vinegar are the most popular ingredients to use, which can break down impediments with ease. First, pour boiling water down the targeted drain. Afterwards, pour each cup of the two ingredients down the drain, and then wait five to ten minutes. You’ll then want to pour another cup of boiling water down the drain. The second cup will completely eliminate the remaining traces of dirt or grime.

Trap Inspection

The U-shaped pipe found just underneath your sink can be the source of your clogged drains as well. Known as the drain trap, clogs can easily grow and manifest inside here if you don’t act with haste. Remove the trap and physically clean it out while wearing rubber gloves. Then, all you need to do is reassemble it and conduct a final rinse when it is reattached.