10 Easy & Useful DIY Hacks and Tricks To Unclog a Drain

Drains in your home get blocked often. Hair, food bits, soap, and dirt stick inside pipes. This makes the water go slowly. Start with soft ways to fix it. This keeps your pipes safe. Use strong ways only if soft ones do not work.

These 10 easy diy hacks to unclog a drain using things from your home are useful. They are safe and fast. Always wear gloves. Work where air is fresh. Furthermore, you can check out these amazing house cleaning hacks.

10 DIY Tips to Unclog Drains

1. Bent Wire Hanger for Sink Blocks

Bent Wire Hanger for Sink Blocks

Hair and food stick to soap dirt in sink pipes. This stops water flow after some time. Take a coat hanger. Make it straight. Bend a small hook at one end. Push the hook slowly into the drain hole. Twist it to catch the block. Pull it out soft to take out the dirt.

Move the hanger light up and down to loosen the dirt. Do not push too hard, or the block goes deeper. This way uses no chemicals. It is good for new people to try. After, pour hot water to clean more.

2. Dish Soap for Shower and Toilet Drains

how-to-unclog-a-bathtub_dish-soap

Hair blocks shower drains a lot. Toilets blocked from too much paper or wipes. Always throw non-paper things in the trash. Put 1 cup of dish soap in the drain. Then pour a pot of hot water. Use a plunger to push and pull hard.

The soap melts fat and makes the block slide out. For the toilet, put on gloves. Use your hands if you need to, but try the plunger first. This is cheap and works quick on small blocks. No bad smells.

3. Vinegar and Baking Soda Mix

Vinegar and Baking Soda Mix

This bubbly mix fixes small blocks in sinks or baths. It is like a school project with fizz. First, pour hot water to make the dirt soft. Put ½ cup of baking soda in the drain. Then add 1 cup white vinegar and 1 more cup hot water. Let it sit 1 hour or longer.

The bubbles push out the dirt by themselves. After, run hot water from tap. See if the water goes fast. If not, try the next tip or call a worker. This keeps pipes clean without hurting.

4. Washing Soda for Harder Blocks

Washing Soda for Harder Blocks

If baking soda is not strong enough, use washing soda. It is sodium carbonate. It is better at cutting fat. Fill the sink half with hot water. Add 1 mug of washing soda. Wait 5 minutes. Then add more hot water.

Mix it if you can to make it work better. Do it again if the water still slow. No washing soda? Put baking soda in a dish. Bake at 400°F for 1 hour. It turns into washing soda. Easy to make at home.

5. Wet/Dry Vacuum for Blocks Near Top

A wet/dry vacuum sucks wet or dry dirt from blocks close to the hole. Cover the drain tightly with an old plunger top. No mess this way. Set the vacuum to wet mode. Use high pull power. Put the hose on the cover. Run it 1-2 minutes.

Stop vacuum. Take off the cover. Run slow water to test. This pulls blocks out clean. No need for other tools. Good for sinks where you see the dirt.

6. Coke to Clean Pipe Buildup

Coke to Clean Pipe Buildup

Coke or Pepsi from your fridge melts dirt in pipes. It has acid that works. Pour a big 2-liter bottle down the blocked drain. Let it sit 1 hour. Then pour hot water to wash it out. It is soft, not like store cleaners.

Use it for fat blocks that stick hard. For small blocks, Coke sugar might make them sticky. Use baking soda then. Rinse well so no sweet smell stays. It is fun to use a drink for cleaning.

7. Take Off the P-Trap Under Sink

Clogged-Drain-P-Trap

The P-trap is the bend pipe under the sink. It catches dirt. If other ways fail, remove it by hand. Put a bucket under to catch water. Use a tool like a wrench to open the nuts. Pull the pipe out.

Throw out the dirt inside. Wash the pipe in another sink. Put it back. Make nuts tight but not too much. No leaks now. This fixes most sink blocks. You learn about your pipes.

8. Plunger for Small Drain Holes

Plunger for Small Drain Holes

Plunger makes push and pull to break blocks in sinks, showers, or baths. Use a cup plunger for flat holes. Not the toilet one. Take off covers. Add water for good seal. Put jelly on the plunger edge if needed. Push and pull hard 10-15 times.

Run water to check. Do again if slow. This uses no chemicals. Keep a plunger near the sink for fast help. It is simple for anyone.

9. Plumbing Snake or Auger

Plumbing Snake or Auger

For blocks deep in pipes, a snake tool twists and grabs dirt. Buy one from the store. Go slow so no scratches on pipes. Put an end in the drain. Turn the handle and push.

Pull back to get the block out. If you are new, call a worker. The wrong way can hurt pipes. Try easy tips first. Then use this.

10. Caustic Soda for Big Blocks

Caustic soda is strong. It eats hard blocks but can burn skin. Use gloves, eye cover, and fresh air. It is sodium hydroxide. Put 3 cups soda in bucket with ¾ gallon of cold water. Mix with a wooden spoon till it bubbles.

Pour in drain. Wait 20-30 minutes. Then pour hot water to clean. Do again if still blocked. Be very careful. Try soft ways first. This is last choice.

Wrap-Up

These tips fix drain blocks fast at home. Start with soft ones to save pipes. Need more cleaning help? Join our email list for easy ideas. No worry, just simple ways.

About Author

bukharifaran

A professional writer, blogger and founder of Watch Live PSL, who is writing for various blogs including Mobile Fun, and Easy DIY and Crafts.