Drain Cleaning DIY Ideas

When you have a clogged drain, there are lots of things you can try to fix it. However, some DIY plumbing ideas are better than others! We’ll tell you what’s worth trying and what you should stay away from when unclogging a drain.

Dish Soap – While dish soap is a technique that may work on a clogged toilet, dish soap down a sink drain doesn’t do much to unclog it. It mainly just creates soapy bubbles that obscure seeing the drain effectively to unclog it. So, not only is it largely ineffective, but it can also make unclogging it afterwards harder to do.
Hot Water – Pouring hot water down your drain has been a technique for unclogging drains for many years because it’s so simple to do. You simply pour hot water down the drain a few times and wait to see if it works. However, it works best on kitchen sinks rather than bathroom sinks or tubs/showers because the hot water acts like a degreaser but doesn’t do much for clogged hair. It also doesn’t work when there is standing water in the sink due to a bad clog regardless of where in your house it’s located.
Baking Soda – Using the natural reaction between baking soda and vinegar to unclog your drain is a safe way to tackle the problem. It’s not particularly quick, and it may not work on tough clogs, but it’s a great place to start because it doesn’t require any special tools or supplies. Just like hot water though, it won’t work on a sink or tub/shower where the clog is bad enough that it’s preventing the water from going down.
Chemical Cleaners – Too often we get calls from homeowners and business owners who have tried to tackle a clog with a liquid chemical that they got at the store and hastily dumped down their drain without considering the risks. These kinds of chemicals can get stuck on the clog and end up coming back out when they fail and the drain needs to be plunged or snaked, causing significant harm to anyone who is working on it or nearby. These kinds of harsh products can also damage your pipes – making them weak, brittle, or thinning them out over time. As a result, pipes may be more likely to crack and break or freeze and burst. We definitely do not recommend using harsh chemical “quick fixes” to try to unclog your pipes!
Plunging – Plunging a sink clog is a very effective way to remove even stubborn clogs from your drains. However, you need to be aware that your toilet plunger likely won’t work due to space constraints (and given where it’s been before, you likely don’t want to use it where you brush your teeth of prepare food). Instead, you’ll want to use a sink plunger, which looks like a regular toilet plunger but is much smaller. Most stores don’t stock these, but you order them online to try on your clogged sink, tub, or shower. Plunging a sink is a lot like plunging a toilet, except that you’ll need to plug up the overflow drain so that the plunger can build pressure in the system. Just be careful when plunging a sink though. If done too aggressively without a towel or cloth over it, it can result in disgusting sink buildup to come shooting out of your sink!
Snaking – Using a sink auger (or sink snake) is a more advanced method for trying to fix a clogged sink. It involves threading a thick metal wire into the drain and using the handle’s cranking action to twist it around inside to break up whatever is stuck inside. These are the kinds of tools that professional plumbers usually have, but if you are experiencing ongoing drain issues, you may consider buying one from a home improvement store or plumbing supply company.
Coat Hanger – We have seen homeowners try to snake their sinks before without using an actual sink snake. Some people will just use a straightened-out coat hanger instead. This is not a good idea because the sharp wire of a coat hanger can cause damage or get stuck inside your pipe. Additionally, while a coat hanger can poke down in, it doesn’t have any way to be twisted around inside effectively to actually remove the clog, so it’s relatively ineffective.

If you have a clogged drain that you can’t fix yourself, give us a call! We will come out as soon as possible to get it fixed for you the first time. Call us at 1 (800) 674-9130 for help with a clogged drain!

Additional resources:
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Comparison of Roto Rooting and Hydro Jetting
How to Remove Mineral Buildup in Pipes
What are the Rates to Clean Out a Sewer Line?
Does My Situation Need Hydro Jetting Services?
Who Does Sewer Jetting Near Me?
Jetting and Rodding: Compare and Contrast
Clog Repair in a Sewer Line Rates
What do Plumbers Do With Drain Clogs?
Tips for Shower Drain Clog Removal
Plumbing Cleanout Companies
What is Included in Drain and Sewer Cleaning?
All About Hydro Jetting
Explanation of Hydro Jet Services
Who Can Clean Drains the Best Near Me?
What Are Drain Cleaners?
How Do Plumbers Clean Drains?
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All Hours Roto Rooting Clog Removal
Who Does Local Drain Cleaning?
What's the Best DIY Drain Cleaning Technique?
How to Clean Drains