Drain Doctor plumbers have shared three simple hacks to help with a simple clogging issue, no plunger needed.
1. The bent wire hanger
The experts said: “Simple enough, but surprisingly effective. Take an ordinary wire coat hanger and straighten it out as best you can. Then, bend one end over to create a small hook.
“Push that past the drain cover and start fishing. You should be able to get all sorts of hair and nasty stuff out of the drain.
“Remember, you always want to be pulling gunk out, not pushing it further. When you’ve got out as much as you can, run the hot water, and it should clear things up nicely.”
2. Bicarbonate of soda and vinegar
A powerful cleaning duo, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar, could work wonders at unblocking drains. Simply mix a third of a cup of bicarbonate soda with the same ratio of vinegar in a measuring cup. It’ll fizz immediately and then simply pour it down the clogged drain.
According to the plumbers, the fizzing action will help remove gunk, hair, and grime that have built up in the blocked drain pipe. Let it sit for one hour or overnight if you can, then flush the drain with hot water. Alternatively, get as much of the dry bicarbonate of soda as you can down the drain first, then pour on the vinegar after.
3. Boiling water
The experts said: “Tips don’t get any easier than this. Put the kettle on and boil up as much water as it will hold. Now pour it slowly down the drain in two to three stages, allowing the hot water to work for several seconds in between each pour.
“This is usually the easiest and quickest way to unclog a drain, and it sometimes helps to add some washing-up liquid to help dissolve any grease.” If none of these work, professionals will need to be called out to assess the issue.
