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The bottle of drain cleaner under the sink is rarely the best tool for the job. It is slow, it often fails on a real blockage, and it leaves a sink full of caustic liquid for you, or for a plumber, to deal with afterwards. Mechanical methods are quicker, cheaper and safer.
First, which kind of clog?
- One fixture is slow or blocked: the clog is close by, in that fixture's trap or drain pipe. You can almost certainly clear it yourself.
- Several fixtures are slow, or water comes up somewhere else: the problem is further along, possibly in the main sewer line. Skip to the last section.
Bathroom sinks and tubs
The cause is hair and soap, and it is usually within a few inches of the opening.
- Remove the stopper. Most tub stoppers unscrew. A sink pop-up stopper either lifts out or is held by a small rod and nut under the basin.
- Push a plastic drain cleaning strip down the drain, twist it, and pull it out slowly. They cost very little and work remarkably well.
- Run hot water for a minute.
Kitchen sinks
Here the cause is grease and food.
- Try a plunger first. Use a flat-bottomed sink plunger, not the toilet kind. If it is a double sink, hold a wet cloth firmly over the other drain, or the pressure simply escapes. Run a few inches of water, then plunge sharply a dozen times.
- If that fails, clean out the trap. Put a bucket under the U-shaped pipe below the sink, unscrew the two large plastic nuts by hand, and empty it. Check that the washers go back in the same way.
- If the trap is clear, the clog is further along. Feed a hand drain snake into the pipe in the wall, turning the handle as you go, until you feel it bite. Draw it back slowly.
If the sink has a garbage disposal that hums without turning, switch it off, and free it with the hex key that fits the socket underneath. Never put a hand inside.
Toilets
Use a flange plunger, the kind with a fold-out rubber collar. Make sure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the rubber, press down gently to get a seal, then pump firmly. If that does not work, a toilet auger is made for the job. An ordinary drain snake can scratch the bowl.
Why we do not recommend chemical cleaners
- They can burn skin and eyes, and they are dangerous when mixed with other products
- They generate heat, which can soften plastic pipes and damage old metal ones
- When they fail, the blocked sink is now full of caustic water
- They are harmful to septic systems
If you have already poured one in, do not plunge, because it splashes. Tell the plumber when you call.
Enzyme-based cleaners are safe and are useful once a month to keep drains clear. They will not shift an existing blockage. Baking soda and vinegar does no harm, and does very little good.
Keeping drains clear
- Put a hair catcher over shower and tub drains
- Never pour cooking grease down the sink. Let it set and put it in the trash.
- Run cold water while the disposal is going, and for a few seconds after
- Flush only toilet paper. Wipes sold as flushable are a leading cause of blockages.
Signs of a main line problem
- Several drains are slow at once
- Gurgling from drains or toilets when water runs elsewhere
- Sewage smell, or water backing up through a floor drain or the lowest fixture in the house
- In an older house with large trees nearby, blockages that come back every few months. Tree roots find their way into old sewer pipes.
Stop running water and find a licensed plumber. They can clear the line with powered equipment and put a camera down it to see what is going on.