Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, having a clogged drain can be extremely inconvenient. Whether the clog is in your kitchen sink, shower, or toilet, clogs can lead to water damage and mold, not to mention they might keep you from basic functions like cooking, cleaning, and showering.
You’ll know you have a clogged drain if you notice that water drains progressively slower than normal. You might also hear gurgling or whistling noises during draining, indicating that water is creating air pockets as it travels around a blockage. Eventually, you’ll have a completely clogged drain and a bunch of standing water to deal with.
Because calling a plumber to make an emergency visit can be expensive, many people wonder if they can fix the problem themselves. If you fall into this DIY plumbing category, you’ve come to the right place!
Why is My Drain Pipe Clogged?
Part of the key to unclogging a plugged drain is to figure out what’s causing the clog. Once you know the cause, you have a better chance of repairing it.
If you have a clogged sink drain, the culprit is almost always food particles, dish soap residue, grease, or a backed-up garbage disposal. For clogged shower drains, your problem is typically with hair, soap buildup, or a foreign object that has fallen into the drain. I think the reason for a clogged toilet is rather obvious, so we’ll just leave that to the imagination.
It’s also possible that you have an older plumbing system with galvanized or cast iron drain pipes. These types of pipes are prone to internal corrosion and breaking down from the inside out. As this happens and tiny particles of the pipe keep breaking off, they can eventually clump together and form a clog.
6 Home Remedies For Fixing a Clogged Drain
Now that you know how to narrow down the possibilities of what’s causing your clog, let’s dive into how to fix it.
Start With a Plunger
Regardless of what type of drain is clogged, the best place to start is with a plunger. Everyone should own a plunger, and it’s the least invasive way to unclog a drain. It’s also one of the only home remedies that works in standing water.
You’re probably thinking that plungers only work with clogged toilets, but you are mistaken. The same principles that help a plunger unclog a toilet, pressure and suction, work with any type of pipe. Pumping the plunger forces blockages and debris down into the pipe, and releasing it generates powerful suction that is often enough to suck away the blockage.
- To use a plunger, start by putting the plunger over the drain opening.
- Move the plunger up and down rapidly to create pressure.
- Pull the plunger away and allow suction to eliminate the clog.
- Plungers work best against clogs that stem from solid or semi-solid objects rather than buildup and residue that has accumulated over time.
Pour Boiling Water Down the Drain
If the plunger didn’t do the trick, you should then try to use boiling water. Aside from a plunger, boiling water is the least invasive and cheapest way to unclog a drain. You can use this method with certain sink and shower drain clogs, depending on the cause. Pouring boiling water down the drain can free up grease, food particles, and debris, but it is ineffective against hair, foreign objects, or other solids.
- Start by removing any standing or stagnant water, as the hot water must go directly down the drain.
- Boil water using a tea kettle or stovetop.
- Pour the water down the drain.
- Turn on the water to the clogged drain to see if it runs freely down.
- If there’s a slow drain or no drain at all, you’ll need to proceed to other methods.
You can also mix boiling water with some dish soap, and pour the mixture down the drain. It may take several attempts for this DIY drain cleaning concoction to work, so give it a few tries.
Repurpose a Wire Coat Hanger
Depending on the cause of the clog, a wire coat hanger is your best friend. It will act as a drain snake so that you can remove blockages close to the drain opening. The best place to use the coat hanger method is with a shower or tub drain that is clogged with hair. Here’s how it works:
- Take a wire coat hanger, cut it, and stretch it out into a long, straight wire.
- Bend one end of the hanger into a hook.
- Extend the hooked end into the drain opening and attempt to snag any hairballs near the opening.
- The hook should slip nicely through the hair and grab onto it so that you can remove the blockage.
You can use this method with or without standing water in the way, but it will be easier to see what you’re doing without standing water.
The Baking Soda and Vinegar Concoction
If nothing else has worked so far, you can use the tried and true baking soda and vinegar trick. The nice thing about baking soda and white vinegar is that most people will have them on hand for cooking and cleaning purposes. It just so happens that these two household items can be combined to create a DIY drain cleaner. Here’s how it works.
- Remove any standing water from the drain opening.
- Pour one cup of baking soda directly into the drain opening.
- Let the baking soda sit for two minutes.
- Pour half a cup of white vinegar down the drain.
- Within a few seconds, you should hear a fizzing sound, which is the baking soda and vinegar mixing together.
- Plug the drain opening using a drain stopper, cloth, or anything else that will create an airtight seal.
- Wait for one hour.
- Open the drain pipe and pour boiling water and table salt into it.
The baking soda and vinegar method is highly effective against food and grease clogs in kitchen sinks, as well as soap and mineral buildup in bathroom sinks and showers. It may not be effective, however, against hair, corrosion, and foreign objects.
If baking soda and vinegar are ineffective, you can also try baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide in equal parts. Additionally, it might take several attempts to fix these concoctions to fix a drain clog, so don’t give up after the first try.
Salt, Borax, and Vinegar
Another homemade concoction you can try consists of salt, borax, and white vinegar. This mixture works against the same issues that other homemade drain cleaners work against but can be more effective depending on the circumstances.
To try this method, mix together 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax, and 1/2 cup white vinegar. Pour it down the clogged drain and follow it up immediately with a pot of boiling water. Cover the drain opening and let it sit for one hour before running tap water down the drain to see if your method worked.
Use Coca-Cola
You’re probably wondering why on earth you would want to pour a perfectly delicious can of Coke down the drain. While doing this deprives you of a delicious beverage, it might just be enough to clear your clogged drain. Here’s how it works:
- Remove any standing water.
- Pour two cans or one bottle of Coca-Cola down the clogged drain.
- Cover the drain and let the Coke sit for 8 to 12 hours.
- The Coca-Cola will produce carbon dioxide inside the drain that eats away at clogs and debris.
- After 8 to 12 hours, pour boiling water down the drain.
- Turn on the water and perform a test run.
What to Do When Home Remedies Don’t Suffice?
If you’ve tried each of these methods and nothing seems to be working, you’re left with three options. First, you can try using a drain snake or a chemical drain cleaner to remove the clog. However, there’s a learning curve involved with using a drain snake, and chemical cleaners are potent enough to damage certain metal pipes, including galvanized steel and cast iron.
If you don’t want to use either of these methods, you can also contact us at Fountain Plumbing, and we’ll be right over to fix the issue. Fountain Plumbing employs some of the most experienced plumbers in the industry, and there likely isn’t a clog they haven’t fixed.