Down the Drain: What Cleans Drains the Best?

Clogged drains are a headache. Not only do they prohibit water from draining quickly, but they smell and cause plumbing problems. Luckily, there are several ways to take care of pesky pipes.

If you are experiencing issues with your drain, we have a few tips and tricks for you to try. So, what cleans drains the best? Well, take a look at the information below to learn the answers to that question.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

One of the best ways to unclog drain blockages is with baking soda and vinegar. The two work well together and fight to break up tough clogs.

Start by pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain. Next, pour a 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. Allow the mixture to sit for about an hour.

You’ll notice that when you pour in the vinegar, the ingredients will start to fizz and foam up. That’s a normal reaction. After the allotted amount of time, rinse your drains with warm water.

Dish Soap and Hot Water

When your pipes are filled with grease and soap scum, nothing helps to push the “gook” along like hot water. Boil two liters of water and mix it with a few drops of dish soap.

Once the water reaches its boiling point, pour the mixture down the drain slowly. If your drains are severely clogged, you may have to repeat this step multiple times.

Drain Snake

Sometimes, the issue that’s causing the blockages in your pipes can’t be resolved with hot water or baking soda mixture. You have to pull it right out. When there’s hair and other tough substances in your pipes, there’s no way to rectify the clog—other than to pull it out.

A wire hanger is a good remedy for this problem. Untie the three prongs around the hook of the hanger. Then, elongate the shape so that it resembles a stick.

Leave the curved part of the hanger bent. It’ll act as a hook to pull out the blockage. If you don’t own wire hangers, you can also buy a store-bought drain snake.

A Plumber

Sometimes a clogged drain is too far gone. There is no home remedy to solve the problem. When that happens, it’s time to call a drain cleaning service. They can get to the source of the issue and make sure that your pipes work properly.

Not only that, but if there is a serious issue causing the blockages, they can handle that as well. It’s important to get a handle on small clogs because they can lead to severe plumbing problems.