Do you notice bubbles or gurgling coming from your sink or tub? This is in fact a type of monster—a clog. Here at Dutton Plumbing,we have some great tips for unclogging a drain using simple household ingredients.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Do you remember that volcano experiment you created for your fourth grade science fair? You can use that same science to clear your drains. Baking soda reacts with vinegar to create gas bubbles of carbon dioxide. This foaming helps loosen particles that may be trapped in your pipes. The ingredients are also eco-friendly and even help to neutralize odors. Here are the steps:
- Pour one cup of boiling water down the affected drain to loosen the obstructed particles.
- Drop in one cup of baking soda, and allow a few minutes for it to settle.
- Next, pour in one cup of vinegar and let the mixture sit for one hour.
- Finally, rinse the drain with one more cup of boiling water.
Salt and Baking Soda
Use salt for unclogging a drain that is blocked by grease. Instead of adding vinegar to the baking soda, drop in a cup of salt. Then, add a few cups of boiling water and let the mixture sit for several hours before rinsing it clean.
Plunger and Petroleum Jelly
If your nerves can handle it, your plunger can be multi-functional. After a thorough cleaning, coat the ring of your plunger with petroleum jelly to create a stronger seal. Then, fill the tub or sink with several inches of water and pump the plunger into the drain. A few cycles will usually release any minor obstruction
To get more tips for unclogging a drain, contact Dutton Plumbing. With some of the most experienced plumbers in Simi Valley Region, we can help you with those problems that you just can’t seem to solve on your own.
