Drain Cleaning Made Easy

Whether you are in the kitchen or the bathroom, there are a variety of things that can prevent your sink and shower drains from working properly. Pipes that back up easily and drains that fail to empty water in a timely fashion can be frustrating and downright smelly. This article will outline a few of the things you can try to keep the water flowing.

One of the main ways to prevent particles from getting stuck in the drain in the first place is to consistently use plenty of hot water. Hot water helps flush particles through and breaks up larger pieces. This can help prevent any need for drain cleaning in the first place or make a big job much easier.

There are a variety of harsh chemicals and products available in the grocery store that can help with drain cleaning. Be sure to read the directions and precautions on these products because misuse can be extremely dangerous. You can only let the product sit in the drain for a short period of time before you risk erosion of the pipe or other dangerous complications. You should also be sure to store these sorts of harsh chemical cleaners in a safe place away from children. Ingestion can be downright deadly.

There are natural versions of drain cleaning products that can be used instead of harsh chemicals on relatively mild clogs. A tablespoon of baking soda should be placed into the drain once a week, followed up with half of a cup of vinegar or lemon juice. If you let the mixture sit for 30 minutes or so, the drain should be flowing much more freely afterwards.

If you have tried all of the above and still have a stubborn bathroom or kitchen drain that just won’t move water fast enough, it may be time to call a plumber. There are a variety of experts in your area that have a lot of experience in drain cleaning that can help solve your problem. Plumbers also have sophisticated and relatively technologically-advanced equipment that can aid in drain diagnosis and treatment. Cameras, coils and scopes can be threaded down the drain to find out exactly where the problem is and how it can best be solved. 

Take these tips into consideration when dealing with drain cleaning. You may also want to take steps to prevent drain clogging and backup in the first place. Use mesh or netting to capture hair and food particles before they end up in the drain. This is especially important in the shower where a lot of hair can easily and quickly clog even the best shower drains. Food particles should always be washed down a garbage disposal and never washed down a normal kitchen sink drain.

These steps and more will help you get the most longevity out of your kitchen and bathroom drain cleaning.