Blocked drains are a prevalent issue in homes that can lead to annoyance and irritation. A clogged drain, be it a sink that drains slowly or a fully blocked shower drain, can interfere with your everyday activities and may even escalate to severe plumbing problems if not addressed promptly.
Here are a few simple ways to unclog your kitchen and bathroom drains!
Why Do Drains Get Clogged?
Before we dive into the steps to unclog your drain, it’s important to understand why drains get clogged in the first place.
Hair and Soap Scum Buildup
The primary reason for blocked drains is often the accumulation of hair and soap residue. When you shower or wash your hair, strands of hair can easily get caught in the drain and combine with soap scum, creating a blockage over time.
Food and Grease Buildup
In the kitchen, food particles and grease can accumulate in the drain and cause clogs. This is especially common in sinks that do not have a garbage disposal unit.
Foreign Objects
Sometimes, small objects such as toys, jewelry, or even dental floss can accidentally fall into the drain and cause a blockage.
How to Get the Job Done
We have compiled the best ways to unclog both your kitchen sink and your bathroom sink. These are the methods that we have used for years and have had the most success with. Of course, if you are having trouble there are other methods or you could also always call in a professional for help as well.
Kitchen
Use mix dish soap into hot (but not boiling) water and pour down the drain. Let it sit for 5 minutes before pouring more hot water down the drain to clear away the gunk. Repeat as needed! This works wonders on your kitchen drain because the dish soap de-greases the food and oil buildup from the walls of your drains, allowing them to wash down the sink.
If your kitchen sink is completely clogged, then your best bet is going to be to use a plunger. Make sure that you have plugged any other drains that it is connected to before you start so that the plunger trick works! Use either a (clean) toilet plunger or a kitchen-specific plunger to flush the built-up residue down the drain. Then chase the pipes with hot water or dish soap and hot water (see above).
Bathroom
Pour 1/2 cup of salt down your drain and then chase it with 2 cups of hot (not boiling) water. Repeat 3 to 5 times until the drain is clear. The water will melt the soap build-up, and the salt acts as a scouring agent to scrub it away from the pipe walls.
If you have hair clogging your drain, then you’ll want to use a wire hanger that’s been untwisted and hooked at the bottom to pull the hair out. It might take up to 5 tries to clear out your drain, depending on how clogged it is. You can also purchase a drain cleaning stick with grooves that will pull the hair up even more easily! Just make sure to wear gloves and to have a trash bag handy because–yuck!
Preventing Future Clogs
To prevent future clogs from occurring in your drains, there are several simple steps that you can take to maintain their cleanliness and functionality.
- Invest in a drain cover to catch hair and debris
- Avoid pouring grease or oil down the drain
- Run hot water down the drain after each use to prevent buildup
In addition to taking preventative measures to avoid clogs in your drains, it is also crucial to regularly clean them to maintain their proper function.
- Utilize a homemade drain cleaner to breakdown buildup and prevent clogs
- Incorporate this maintenance routine into a regular cleaning regimen
- Ensure drains remain clear and free-flowing
- Reduce the likelihood of frustrating clogs in the future.
Carpe Diem Cleaning
In what ways do you keep your drains cleaned out? Remember, we can help to keep your home clean on a regular basis to help prevent larger issues like this! Contact us today to set up a free consultation or request a quote online.
