Go with the Flow: Natural Ways to Clear a Clogged Drain

How to unclog a drain the natural way

Natural drain cleaning is just as effective as chemical alternatives. And it’s better for the environment, safer for you and your home, and cheaper in the long run. You can use items you probably already have in your cabinets and under your sink. Read on for some options.

Dish soap and water

For blocked drains caused by grease, the simplest method is good old fashioned dish soap. Here’s how to go about it:

1. First, heat up a pot of boiling water
2. Remove any standing water from the sink and the drain
3. Squirt plenty of dish soap down the clogged drain
4. Let the soap drip for a few minutes to make sure it reaches the grease clog
5. Pour the hot water down the drain and let it sit for a little while
6. Repeat the process till the clog is cleared

Baking soda and white vinegar

Mix these two ingredients together and you get a chemical reaction that bubbles and generates enough pressure to push through a clogged drain. Just follow these steps:

1. Clear debris from the drain opening
2. Dry the drain opening and the area around it
3. Pour ¾ cup of dry baking soda down the drain
4. Add ½ cup of white vinegar
5. Immediately plug the drain using a rag or rubber stopper
6. Wait 30 minutes while you boil a pot of water
7. Remove the plug and pour the boiling water down the drain

Hydrogen peroxide

Just like baking soda and white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide creates a bubbling effect that can eat through blockages, clearing blocked drains.

1. Mix a cup of hydrogen peroxide with a tablespoon of baking soda
2. Pour it down the drain and watch it foam
3. Wait a minute or two and then run warm tap water down the drain

Take the plunger

This simple tool is a fairly effective way to unclog a drain, especially if you’re dealing with a minor clog.

1. Remove any plug or cover from the drain
2. Run the faucet long enough to fill the sink with about an inch of warm or hot water
3. Cover the drain completely to create a tight seal
4. Pump the plunger up and down, increasing the force as needed
5. Check to make sure the water is draining
6. If necessary, use the plunger again

If you’re using the plunger on a blocked drain in a bathroom sink, make sure you have a separate plunger for clearing clogs in the toilet.

How to unclog a drain the natural way

Natural drain cleaning is just as effective as chemical alternatives. And it’s better for the environment, safer for you and your home, and cheaper in the long run. You can use items you probably already have in your cabinets and under your sink. Read on for some options.

Dish soap and water

For blocked drains caused by grease, the simplest method is good old fashioned dish soap. Here’s how to go about it:

1. First, heat up a pot of boiling water
2. Remove any standing water from the sink and the drain
3. Squirt plenty of dish soap down the clogged drain
4. Let the soap drip for a few minutes to make sure it reaches the grease clog
5. Pour the hot water down the drain and let it sit for a little while
6. Repeat the process till the clog is cleared

Baking soda and white vinegar

Mix these two ingredients together and you get a chemical reaction that bubbles and generates enough pressure to push through a clogged drain. Just follow these steps:

1. Clear debris from the drain opening
2. Dry the drain opening and the area around it
3. Pour ¾ cup of dry baking soda down the drain
4. Add ½ cup of white vinegar
5. Immediately plug the drain using a rag or rubber stopper
6. Wait 30 minutes while you boil a pot of water
7. Remove the plug and pour the boiling water down the drain

Hydrogen peroxide

Just like baking soda and white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide creates a bubbling effect that can eat through blockages, clearing blocked drains.

1. Mix a cup of hydrogen peroxide with a tablespoon of baking soda
2. Pour it down the drain and watch it foam
3. Wait a minute or two and then run warm tap water down the drain

Take the plunger

This simple tool is a fairly effective way to unclog a drain, especially if you’re dealing with a minor clog.

1. Remove any plug or cover from the drain
2. Run the faucet long enough to fill the sink with about an inch of warm or hot water
3. Cover the drain completely to create a tight seal
4. Pump the plunger up and down, increasing the force as needed
5. Check to make sure the water is draining
6. If necessary, use the plunger again

If you’re using the plunger on a blocked drain in a bathroom sink, make sure you have a separate plunger for clearing clogs in the toilet.

---

Still have a clogged drain? Roll out the drain snake.

If a wire hanger isn’t doing the job, you might need to get a drain snake. The key is knowing how to use it:

1. Place the end of the drain snake into the drain.
2. Turn the handle on the end of the drain snake, which will push the tip into the drain.
3. Crank the snake down into the drain till you feel resistance.
4. Rotate the snake and keep cranking till you feel the snake break through the clog.
5. Then crank the snake the opposite direction to pull it out of the drain.
6. Run hot tap water into the drain for a few minutes to flush the clog.

Your blocked drain backup plan

If you’ve tried everything we’ve covered and your drain’s still clogged, it’s time to call a professional plumber. What you assume is a simple clogged drain might turn out to be a serious problem with your drain pipes or plumbing system.

How to prevent your next clog

A clogged drain means something went wrong with your pipes. That means you should get in the habit of preventative maintenance to keep the sink from re-clogging. Here are a few tips:

Start by swapping out your sink stopper

If your stopper lets things like pieces of soap go down the drain, find one that only lets water through. Consider investing in a mesh basket stopper that’ll grab and collect food particles. Wipe grease from pots and pans, and make sure you do not pour grease down the drain.

Another thing you can do is to repeat the dish soap and water routine once a week. It doesn’t take much effort or expense to keep your drains free and clear.

The clear choice for peace of mind? An American Home Shield® home warranty.

Your home’s plumbing is just one of the critically important systems you rely on every day. To protect them all, you can count on an American Home Shield warranty that offers coverage for parts of up to 23 home systems and appliances. It can help make for a more worry-free, enjoyable home owning experience. And it’s all about protecting your time, your money, and your way of living.