It’s happened to us all — dirty water, backed up in a sink or tub, all comes when you have house guests over.

You may have mixed feelings about not wanting the harsh chemicals in products like Drano, but you also recognize that chemical drain cleaners are going to keep your drains clean and clear, so use non-toxic products.

We have remedies and suggestions for maintaining your home drains free of hazard and clean!

Green is the word these days!

Reducing carbon footprints–and taking a slow, thoughtful walk down the path of an eco-friendly life.

So how does this play out with household problems like clogged drains? Home remedies of course!

Drain Clog Home Remedies

There are several methods for unclogging a drain without using harsh chemicals. Here are a few home remedies to unclog that drain in your house:

Dish Soap and Hot Water

Boil two liters of water and mix with a few tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Do it gradually and pour down the sink.

This may take two or three attempts, but it can be very effective on grease clogs, because what you are doing is heating up that congealed grease, bringing it back to a liquid and then allowing it to flow out of the pipe completely.

Wire Coat Hanger

Unbend the hanger, but keep the hook. You want to have a grocery bag or something that you can discard your results into.

Fish the hook end of the hanger down into the drain, and pull up any food or hair buildup that is clogging the passageway inside of the pipe. Once you have as much out as you can get insert hot water down the sink.

Baking Soda & Vinegar

First, clear out the area around your sink and put a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. After that, you’re going to want to do half a cup of vinegar. Now plug your drain and let it sit for an hour.

Then, pull out the drain and pour a large pot of boiling water down it. Repeat pouring boiling water down the drain until it runs clear.

Salt, Borax, and Vinegar

Begin with 1/4 cup of salt, 1/4 cup of Borax and a 1/2 cup of vinegar. And a pot of boiling water; let sit for one hour, or until clear.

Lastly, rinse with hot tap water just to flush out all the ingredients down the drain.

Baking Soda & Salt

Combine salt and baking soda. That should be about a 1/2 cup of each to pour down the drain. Let sit for at least half an hour, or overnight. When it’s been there for a good amount of time, flush it through with a pot of boiling water.

The harder the blockage, the longer it will have to sit.

Plunger

All of this is kitchen-sink stuff, really. Food can become lodged at the curve of the drain under the sink where it’s challenging to access with a hook, so you might want to try using a plunger. Start by emptying the sink of dishes, rags or other items.

Fill your sink halfway with a little warm tap water and plunge away. We recommend a rubber plunger.

What are some advantages to using green solutions?

Green solutions are healthier to breathe on than toxic chemicals. They’re not going to eat up your pipes, which will save you time and stress down the line. It is just a win-win for the environment overall!

What’s the big deal with synthetic cleaners?

Sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid are present in synthetic cleaners. This is the digestion in their stomachs, and they are going to eat your pipes. Whether they’re metal pipes or plastic, these chemicals will cause damage over time. They are hard to resist because such cleaners are more likely to work sooner and cost less than a plumber initially, but they will just create more problems in the long run.

How to not have clogged drains?

Check out these other prevention tips and drain enhancements:

• Do not put grease, oil, banana peels, potato peels, eggshells, bones or pits and seeds down the drain.
• Place ice cubes in your garbage disposal to help sharpen the blades.
• Turn the disposal on and run cold water.
• For a fresh smelling odor place slices of small lemons or citrus peels down the disposer.
• Add a hair trap to all of your bathroom sinks, tubs and showers.

If you are in search of a highly trained plumber, then look no further than us at Day & Night Plumbing.