How to Unblock Your Drains Naturally

A slow draining kitchen, bathroom or laundry sink is frustrating and could mean your drain is clogged.

Find out how a simple hack using household items can help freshen and clear drains the natural way.

Unblocking a Drain Naturally Can Be a Quick Solution

It’s said that the two things certain in life are taxes and death, but we believe blocked drains are the third. At some point or another, you are bound to encounter a blocked drain, and when you do, it may not be necessary to get your plumber out ASAP.

However, you do need to take some form of action, because ignoring the problem or simply wishing it to go away could lead to a bigger problem, and a far worse headache down the track if your drains become completely blocked.

So, if you notice a slow draining sink, trough or basin, it’s gurgling, bubbling or making weird noises, or emitting a strong odour, it’s possible your drains are obstructed. If it’s a small blockage within your kitchen, bathroom or laundry, it can be cleaned out using the natural drain clearing method which we’ll reveal soon.

However, for more severe drain or sewer blockages, it’s really important to call a licensed plumber as this kind of drain clearing is more complicated, requiring specialist tools to get to the cause of the blockage (which could be tree roots, a cracked pipe, Shrek toy - TRUE STORY - or other obstruction).

How do you clear blocked drains?

There are several ways you can try to unblock a drain yourself, and it’s really important to consider the environment before you do so.

It’s simply not necessary to reach for a harsh chemical drain cleaner product, which enters our waterways, harming the natural environment and disrupting the ecosystem. Thankfully the natural options use simple items you’re likely to already have on hand around the home!

DIY Drain Clearing and Unblocking Method to Try at Home

The natural drain cleaning method we’re referring to is, of course, the beloved power duo of Baking Soda and Vinegar, with a special guest appearance by Boiling Water. (There are also a few other natural ways to unblock your drain naturally, which we’ll discuss another time)

Let’s get to the nitty gritty on how to unblock a drain using the ever-popular baking soda and vinegar method.

Vinegar has some great antibacterial and antiseptic qualities, and combined with its buddy baking soda, creates a powerful chemical reaction to eat through and loosen any build up caused by grease, grime, dirt, hair, burritos and soap scum.

You will most likely have everything you need in your pantry for this technique, and you can rest assured that there are no harsh chemicals involved!

What You’ll Need

·     Kettle of boiling water

·     1 cup vinegar – regular white vinegar is best

·     ½ cup baking soda – aka bicarbonate soda

How You’ll Do It

1.    Boil a kettle full of water, then very carefully pour about half of it down your affected sink drain – don’t scald yourself!

2.    Sprinkle baking soda down your drain and let sit for a minute or so

3.    Pour the vinegar down your drain

4.    Cover drain with a plug for at least 5 minutes to allow the chemical reaction to really loosen any debris and get things working

5.    Reboil your kettle at this point and carefully pour the remaining boiling water down the sink to wash away the baking soda, vinegar and any grease or grime in the pipes.

Voila - You should now notice your sink drains easily and smells as fresh as a Marc Jacobs’ Daisy, or at least like a regular sink.

Is it Safe Putting Baking Soda and Vinegar Down the Drain?

The answer is yes! This natural combo has been used for donkey’s years and are natural ingredients that are kinder and safer on the environment. They won’t affect the waterways or eco system, and they’re much safer cleaning agents to have around for humans (especially little ones!) and pets.

What to Do When the Natural Drain Clearing Method Doesn’t Work?

Okay, so you’ve tried the natural baking soda and vinegar method to clear your drains, maybe a plunge or two or even resorted to the chemical drain cleaner solution but you’re still not seeing results. If you’re still getting slow draining sinks, gurgling or bubbling – it’s time to call the professionals!

Professional, licensed, awesome plumbers (cough cough) will have all the right tools and know-how to effectively assess, diagnose and clear a blocked drain. Nifty drain cameras are used to determine the cause, while high pressure water jet drain clearing machinery have come a long way from previous outdated drain clearing solutions, and can power through tree roots, built up deposits and other stubborn blockages.

Advanced Drain Cleaning Equipment To Clear The Pipes

Using CCTV drain cameras experienced plumbers can determine the cause of the blockage and use water jetters to clear the obstruction. Water jetters are a powerful solution for clearing blocked drains as they can break up and remove all types of debris including grease, tree roots and scale. If you have a blocked drain, it's important to call a qualified plumber to diagnose and fix the problem. DIY methods may seem like a cheaper option but they can often do more harm than good.

If you have a very blocked drain and it's starting to be a problem, the best thing to do is call a qualified emergency plumber who has experience with using CCTV drain cameras and water jetters. They will be able to quickly diagnose the problem and come up with an effective solution to get those drains unblocked.

Our main drain man Lee at MC2 Plumbing is always on call to help with your drain clearing emergencies in Perth, so give him a call on 0424 309 622 to get your drains fresh and flowing once more.

The face of MC2 Plumbing, Lee is your friendly, nice-guy-next-door type bloke. Once a professional tap dancer, Lee went from dancing on taps around the world to fixing taps in Perth (with over 20 years in the trade).

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