How To Unblock a Drain Without Calling a Plumber

May 17, 2022
4:13 pm

Clean Blocked Drains Yourself

Is your kitchen sink or shower draining slowly and making gurgling noises? Or perhaps they have a bad smell or foul odour? Chances are you have a blocked drain. The primary causes of a clogged kitchen sink are those caused by fat, oil and grease (FOG) or food particles. Whereas, the most common causes of blockages in the bathroom are hair and soap. Before you reach for a toxic drain cleaner or rush out and call a plumber, try these 5 home remedies.

A Plunger

The good old plunger dislodges food particles stuck in the p-trap beneath your sink. Simply, half fill your sink with warm water and push up and down on the plunger. Finish up by rinsing the drain with hot water.

Coat Hanger / Wire Hook

For hair or other small objects stuck in your bathroom drains, remove the drain cover then fish around to loosen any blockages in the pipe using a bent piece of hooked wire.

Liquid Dish Detergent and Hot Water

This solution works best for grease and fat clogs and is ideal for slow-draining kitchen sinks. Just mix a litre of boiling water with a few tablespoons of an environmentally-friendly dishwashing detergent then slowly pour down your sink. You may need to do this a couple of times to completely remove the blockage.

Salt and Hot Water

To melt the grease or soap clogging your kitchen sink or shower, all you need is any type of salt and boiling water. Firstly, pour half a cup of salt down the slow-moving drain followed by a couple of litres of hot water. This method works well as the salt has an abrasive texture and the boiling water melts the grease.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Using this technique, start by pouring a litre of hot water down your blocked drain then add half a cup of baking soda and lett that sit for a few minutes. Next, pour 1 cup of vinegar and one cup of boiling hot water on top of the baking soda then cover with the drain plug. After 5 to 10 minutes, flush the drain once more with boiling water.

Drain Still Blocked?

Although most clogged drains can be cleared using the above means, sometimes it may be necessary to call in a professional plumber to remove the more stubborn blockages. If you’ve tried these methods but your drains are still blocked, please call Silverwater Plumbing for help. With competitive rates and 24/7 availability across Sydney, we are the drain clearing experts and will have your pipes freely flowing again in no time.