DIY Drain Cleaning Tips – How To Do It Yourself Before Your Drain Gets Clogged

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 , Posted by Bradhaw Plumbing

Drain cleaning is not something you want to spend a lot of time doing. Its something you do not want to have to encounter at all if you can avoid it. But it happens in homes across the Greater Toronto Area all the time. You may notice the bathtub or sink draining slowly, or you might find yourself with a clogged toilet.

As a homeowner, it is important to have a few methods for DIY drain cleaning and unclogging to deal with these types of situations as they arise. Here we will provide you with some effective home-made solutions for drain cleaning and offer some drain clog prevention advice.

DIY Drain Cleaning Solutions

Have a drain clog? Just want to know what you should do if one happens? The good news is there are a lot of things you can use to make drain cleaning solutions at home. You probably have all the ingredients you need at home right now.

Here are a few tips on DIY drain cleaning and drain clog prevention. Try these home-made solutions if you are having difficulty clearing your drain:

  • Dish detergent and hot water: This simple mixture is ideal if your drains are slow because of grease build up. Add two tablespoons of dish detergent into a pot of boiling water. Slowly pour it down the drain to break up the grease.
  • Baking soda and vinegar: This is one of the most common and most widely used home remedies. All you need to do is pour half a cup of baking powder followed by half a cup of vinegar down the drain. Follow this up with hot boiling water.
  • Baking soda and salt: Mix half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of table salt. Pour this down the drain and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes. Allow to sit longer for bad clogs. Rinse with boiling water.
  • Borax, salt, and vinegar: Combine a quarter cup of salt with a quarter cup of borax. Then pour half a cup of vinegar. Follow this up by pouring boiling water down the drain. Let it sit and then run the hot water to see if the clog clears.
  • Baking soda, salt, and cream of tatar: This sounds odd, but it works. Combine 2 cups of baking soda with half a cup of salt. Then add about two tablespoons of cream of tartar. Mix up the solution. Pour boiling water down the drain then add your mixture. Let it sit for an hour. Rinse to see if the clog is clear.

As you can see, baking soda is a key ingredient to help keep your drains clog free. Natural products are safer than store bought chemical cleaners. So, give these solutions a try next time you have a clog before you call in a plumber.

Follow This Advice For Drain Clog Prevention

Prevention is always your best course of action. You want to prevent clogs before they have an opportunity to form. The longer you wait to take action, the worse they can get. Use these tips to reduce the odds of having a clogged drain:

  • Avoid having food and scraps do down the kitchen sink.
  • Never pour grease down the drain. Put it in a sealable container and put it in the garbage once it cools.
  • Use a mesh screen to help keep hair and soap scum from getting into bathtub and vanity sink drains.
  • Only flush toilet paper down the toilet. Do not flush baby wipes, paper towel or napkins.
  • Keep an eye on the kids to make sure they do not flush things that should not go down the drain.
  • Clean your drains and stoppers weekly.

Following these tips will help ensure you are not faced with a difficult to clear clog.

Have A Clog? Give Us A Call!

Some clogs are simple to clear out yourself while others are not so easy. If you can’t get rid of the clog yourself, we can help. Our professional team offers comprehensive sewer and drain services. We deal with clogs all the time. We will make sure your drains are cleared the right way. Contact us at 416-286-7511 anytime.

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