EASY and inexpensive ways to clean gunk out of a drain
There are two simple and very effective ways to clean to clear gunk and
hair out of your drains without using harsh chemicals. And with one method
you’ll have everything you need in your kitchen.
One of these drain clearing methods works better in the kitchen on built up
foods and fats, and the other works well in bathroom sinks and showers where
the clog culprit is most likely from hair down the drain.
We used to grab the Drano (and an even more caustic product once — never
again) every time the water started to slow in our sinks. No more! These
methods work every time and it only takes a few minutes to use each drain
cleaning hack.
Why you should clean your sink drains
Well I think most of us understand why. At least we know when sinks
start to drain slow they need to be cleared out. But I’m guilty (and I think a
lot of us are) of not doing it enough.
In a kitchen, there are fats, oils and other foods that gunk up pipes over
time. (Did you know even pasta is bad for your pipes?) In the bath, it’s the
dreaded hair. And unless you’re diligent and stay on top of it all the time,
clogs happen eventually. If you’re not treating your drains right, eventually
you’ll need to clear out the pipes.
And your sink will probably be stinky. Ever had a foul smell in the
kitchen you can’t place? This is probably it.
Cleaning out the food goo and gunk
This one is typically used in kitchens where you have the thick build up of
fats and gooey food. I used to use the old school method of hot water, then
baking soda and finally vinegar to clear a kitchen drain.
But years ago I heard of a more effective and even easier way to get it
done…and I’ve never gone back! I try to do this every six months or so, but
as we’ve already discussed…drains aren’t usually something I think of
cleaning regularly.
You’ll only need a couple “ingredients” to flush the built up food and fats in
your kitchen drain.
First up, boil a saucepan full of water. If your drain is already backed up or
running slow, you may need to do this numerous times or boil a lot more water
to start:
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My
inexpensive black and brass cookware is still looking great!
Stir a few tablespoons to 1/4 cup of dish detergent into your hot water (less
for smaller pan, more for larger pot) and then let the water cool just a
bit.
It is not recommended to pour boiling hot water down sink drains that are
backed up if you have PVC pipes — if clogged, the boiling water can sit
and start to melt the pipes.
Also, a porcelain sink can crack from boiling water.
Yet another reason to do this before your drain pipes clog up!
Pour about a half of cup of salt (any salt will do) down the kitchen
drain:
Then wash the salt down the drain with the very hot, soapy water. Rinse with
hot water from the faucet:
It works like a dream! It had been ahem…a while since I had
last done this and this time we could hear gurgling as the pipes cleared out.
They continued to gurgle for about 30 seconds after I poured the combo down
the drain.
When food isn’t the problem
In bathrooms the problem is rarely from food, but hair instead. Sometimes soap
scum too, but hair is usually the culprit. And then soap and goo get stuck in
the hair, and well…you know.
This where it gets gross my friends. REAL nasty. I am sparing you the after
pictures from the last time I did this in our bathroom.
Zip it is the OG of these tools and there are tons of knock offs now. I think
this one is the latter:
Overall I find the Zip it brand lasts longer than others.
These little doodads are long plastic drain cleaners with little threads
that grab all the hair on the way down and back up:
You simply thread it down your bathroom drain as far as you can. No need to
remove the stopper.
If it doesn’t easily slide down one side of your stopper, try again in
another spot:
Pull it back up and then try not to hurl. If you’re a decent human being who
doesn’t let any hair down the drain you won’t notice much. But if you’re
like most of us, you’ll need to be prepared for what will come back up the
drain.
If it’s been awhile I usually have do this a few times to clear all the hair
from the sink. But that’s IT! You’ll be shocked at how much faster your
water drains.
And there you go…a clean drain that lets water move freely:
This plastic tool will work on bathtub and shower drains as well.
I would not recommend using this on a kitchen sink drain with a disposal.
Things to consider when using either drain cleaning method:
-
Remember, (especially if you already have a clogged drain), avoid using
actively boiling water in your sinks. -
Be gentle! If your drain cleaning tool doesn’t move easily in and out of
the drain, you’ll need to jiggle it a bit as you use it. It will get
easier to move as you clear out the hair. -
Some consider the drain tools to be one use products, but I use them over
and over for years. (Unless you are gagging from what comes up and want to
throw the whole thing away.) I grab some tissue and grab the offensive
clog off of the plastic piece. The only time I ever replace them is when
all of the “teeth” have come off the sides. It will still grab some hair,
just not as much. -
As I mentioned earlier, if your build up is more severe, you’ll need to
attempt these methods a few times to get the gunk completely cleared out.
There you go! The easiest ways to clear kitchen and bathroom drains in seconds
and with very little expense! Most of the time there is no need to use harmful
chemicals to clean out your sink drains and pipes.
Have you tried either of these methods for your clogged sinks?
My DIY jewelry cleaner “recipe” is another favorite cleaning hack!:
