We all have experienced it or have at least seen it. As soon as we notice the signs – water pooling around the sink or shower or the bad smell, we know it’s a clogged drain. At first, despite seeing that the water takes a longer time to drain, we may ignore it. Until one day-boom! The drain is completely blocked. This is a common problem that needs to be addressed quickly unless you want to suffer the consequences of a burst pipe or have a bathroom that is totally useless.
The common response to this problem is to remove the gunk and excess hair that has built up over time. But often, nothing happens even after doing this. So, what next?
For some people, they would opt to call someone to help them. It can be a person who has experienced and knows how to deal with it or professional who has the expertise to solve the problem. But before you bother someone or spend money hiring a professional, there are so many ways you can do to solve this problem without spending a penny and not using any chemical.
5 ways to unclog a shower drain:
1. The bent wire hanger
This method is straightforward, yet very effective. Plus, you have a hanger in your place. Take one and straighten it out. Next, create a small hook by bending one end of the hanger. Push it past the drain, and you can begin fishing for any clog.
You should take out all the hair and any nasty stuff out of your drain. Just keep in mind that the gunk should be pulled out and not pushed further. After this, pour some hot water into the pipe to clear things up.
2. Vinegar and baking soda
Prepare a mixture of 1/3 cup of vinegar and 1/3 baking soda. Beware as the mixture will fizz immediately so be quick in pouring it down the drain. The fizzing action of the mixture will remove the hair, gunk, and grime built up in your pipe. Let the mixture sit for an hour or overnight. Then flush it with hot water to clear up the drain.
3. Clean the pipe
Some plumbing jobs are just so difficult to do, but this one is so easy. Start by placing a bucket under the pipe beneath the sink. This bucket should collect the water spill. The use a plumber’s wrench to loosen the slip nuts. As soon as the trap is free, you should remove it and turn it upside down to empty the contents. You can also use a toothbrush to remove the tough gunk. After removing all the clogs, rinse the trap with water. Then put the trap back.
4. Salt and baking soda
A mixture of ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup of salt is a common trick to unclog the drain. Pour the mixture into the pipe and leave it for 10-20 minutes. Then rinse it with boiling water. The mixture and boiling water will produce a chemical reaction that will dissolve the blockages.
5. Vinegar, baking soda, pressure, and gravity
For a clogged shower drain, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar (as mentioned above) will help. Pour it into the pipe and place a stopper over it. Wait for 45-60 minutes then fill the bathtub with water and remover the stopper. Make sure that the water pressure is enough to get rid of the blockage that has already been loosened by the mixture. You can also try plunging or the drain snake in combination with the weight of the water.
There you have it. If you are faced with the problem of a clogged drain, there is no need to panic. There are so many ways you can try to remove the clog and clean the drain. The ones mentioned are the most basic and does not involve the use of any chemical. But of course, there are chemicals out there intended to remove blockages that you can use.
The task of unclogging the drain can be easy or difficult at times, depending on blockages that have built up in the drain. If the above ways fail to work for you, there are professionals that you can call on for help.