In a pinch with a clogged drain you want to clear fast? Try not to worry just yet, there are plenty of quick, DIY-friendly fixes you can try as a homeowner to tackle a blockage before calling a drain specialist. Most of these pipe cleaning hacks use tools and liquids you should have at hand.

In this blog, we’ll look at 10 quick ways you can clear a clogged drain on your own. Just remember: these are short term fixes. If the problem comes back (or gets worse), it’s best to call a blocked drain specialist to sort things out.

Let’s get started.

1. Try a baking soda and vinegar mix

The old classics still have a place in DIY plumbing, and none have really stood the test of time like mixing baking soda and vinegar to get rid of minor blockages.

All you need to do is:

  • Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain.
  • Follow it up with half a cup of vinegar
  • Cover the drain and wait for around 15 minutes — the fizzy liquid should start dissolving pesky grime and grease
  • Flush everything with hot water for a couple of minutes

While it’s unlikely to shift more serious blocks, this tried-and-trusted method should be enough to clean away things like food residue and fats from your pipes.

2. Pour boiling water down the drain

Hot Water Technique

Hot water is good enough for your dishes, and it’s useful for flushing down all sorts of debris you can’t see that linger just below the sinkhole. It’s basic, but effective.

You can either boil water in a kettle and pour it down, or simply use hot water from a tap. The latter might be better, as you can keep it running for a few minutes to really clear out what’s lurking below.

3. Use a plunger (properly)

Use Drain Snakes

A plunger isn’t just for toilets. They work surprisingly well with sinks, too. A standard plunger used at the right pressure can dismantle gunk and get rid of small clogs.

To clear a clogged drain, you should:

  • Fill the sink or bathtub with a few inches of water to create a seal
  • Put the plunger over the drain and plunge rhythmically, front to back, quite strongly for up to 60 seconds
  • Lift and check to see if it’s worked

Hopefully, the air pressure built using a plunger will remove blockages without the need for further drain repairs.

4. Use a drain snake or auger

Drain specialists are best are wielding at drain snakes. But you can have a go as well if you think you can reach a deeper blockage. These snakes (and plumbing augers) can be bought quite cheaply at hardware stores. When you get home, just try and feed the snake down the drain until you feel resistance — this is your clog!

Now, you need to twist and pull to dismantle any stubborn substances, such as grime and food snaps. One thing lots of homeowners (and pros) pull up using snakes is hair, as it can especially strong and wiry, Removing this might be enough to clear the blockage

5. Block overflow vents when plunging

When using tools, always cover overflow vents (those little holes near the top of your sink or bath). Leaving them open makes it much harder to create the necessary pressure, as it will otherwise escape when you plunge.

6. Try soda

Yes, not baking soda, but soda pop, the bottles many homeowners have at hand to drink! Carbonated drinks are actually pretty good at pushing out small blockages — the phosphoric acid in cola is great for breaking down gunk and grease, for example.

The instructions are easy enough:

  • Open a can or bottle of soda
  • Pour it down the drain
  • Let it sit for around an hour
  • Flush with hot water

While it’s not as powerful as commercial cleaners, it is gentler and might be safer yet still strong enough to get the job done.

7. Clean out the plumbing trap

Drain fixtures can contribute to things clogging up, especially if they’re left to fester without regular maintenance. Cleaning up the plumbing trap is something you should do periodically, to keep things running smoothly.

Here’s how:

  • Place a bucket under the U-shaped pipe (the trap) under your sink
  • Unscrew it careful
  • Clear out the nasty stuff
  • Screw it back and test the water flow

You should see an improvement, all without any advanced tools or harsh chemicals.

8. Check for hidden issues

Recurring clogs are a sign that something isn’t right. In most cases like this, quick fixes aren’t enough, and the drain might not be the main problem. It could be tree roots and damaged pipes deeper in the system.

If you’re battling clogs on the daily, don’t waste time — contact a drain specialist for blocked drain services right away. They’ll be able to conduct a professional inspection using tools like CCTV cameras to locate the clog, and high pressure jets to flush it away.

9. Prevent future blogs

Prevention is easier than the cure is a bit of a cliché, but sound advice for drainage systems.

It’s easier to avoid blocked drain issues with small actions each day, such as:

  • Keeping food scraps and grease out of sinks (dispose of it elsewhere).
  • Avoiding flushing any items like paper towels and hygiene products down the toilet.
  • Using drain strainers to catch hair in the shower and sink.
  • Flushing your drains regularly with hot water (or vinegar and baking soda!).
  • Inspecting your drains every 3 months to check everything is okay.

10. Know when to call a drain specialist

Some clogged drains just won’t budge, no matter how good your DIY skills are. The key is knowing when to take a step back and contact a drain specialist, who will have the tools and knowledge to get rid of blockages fast.

Professional blocked drain repairs go far beyond plungers and buckets. Take the team at Drain Fixers. We can:

Locate even the most hidden clogs with CCTV cameras

Use high pressure water jets to thoroughly clean the interior of pipes

Use pipe relining to repair and strengthen cracked pipes

Carry out full sewer replacements when emergency fixes are required.

Blocked drain repairs with Drain Fixers

Nobody is perfect and able to prevent every bit of scrap or strand of hair from falling down a sink or drain. There will come a time when professional blocked drain repairs make the most sense — when DIY quick fixes simply don’t pass muster.

If your pipe clog is persistent and you suspect there are more serious problems to sort, don’t hesitate in contacting the drain specialists at Drain Fixers. Our experienced team of certified and licensed pros provide fast and reliable blocked drain services across Melbourne.

Contact us today to book your free inspection and quote.