4 Tricks For Cleaning Your Drains

To enjoy the water in your home, you need to have drains that work to carry away the wastewater. Over time, things such as food products, grease, soaps, and scum build-up in your drains. This can cause your drains to get clogged up. Luckily, there are some tricks you can use to clean your drains.

Trick #1: Flush With Hot Water

Often, the only thing you need to do is flush your drains with hot water. Don't just run the hot water; boil a few pots of water and pour it down your drain. That boiling water will help dislodge the build-up inside of your pipes. This works best if the buildup inside of your drains is not very thick. Pouring hot water down your drains quickly will help clean things up.

Trick #2: Use A Homemade Cleaner

Another option is to use a homemade cleaner to get things flowing again. The most common homemade cleaner you can use is a combination of vinegar and baking soda. You will want to pour baking soda down the drain, followed up by an equal amount of vinegar.

The chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar will help break down the buildup inside your pipes. These natural products will not damage your pipes at all but will help loosen up the junk inside.

After your pour the baking soda and vinegar down your drain, follow it with a pot of boiling water about three to five minutes later. The hot water should help clear any debris that was loosened up by the homemade cleaner.

Trick #3: Use Some Sugared Soda

Another common trick is to use a soft drink to clean your pipes. The best soft drinks to use are those that are high in sugar, such as regular Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Take a few cans of soda and pour it down the drain. The phosphoric acid in the soda should break down any clogs. Once again, flush with hot water to further clean the drains.

Trick #4: Use A Plunger

You can also use a plunger to clear your drain. A sink plunger works best, but a regular toilet plunger will work as well. Cover the drain opening with your plunger, then push the plunger back and forth using a fluid motion for a few moments.

Don't move the plunger too fast or with too much force. Slow movement will build up the pressure needed to get rid of the clog. Make sure any vents are covered up. Pull off the plunger, and water should flow smoothly.

If none of these methods work, get a professional plumber to come and clean your drains for you. They will use tools that will effectively clean your drains of junk. They can also follow up and clean your drains and get rid of all the debris, so your drains don't keep clogging. For more information about drain cleaning, reach out to a local plumbing company.

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