What Is The Best Way To Clean Your Drains

Are your drains making your life unbearable? It’s amazing how something as simple as a clogged drain can turn a sunny day into a frustrating one. When it comes to drain cleaning Chantilly residents can opt for the DIY approach or call a plumber. 

When one of your drains stops working, it’s a helpless feeling that might end up with a call to the plumber. The good news is this: even if you can’t unclog that stuck drain all by yourself, hiring a professional is often the best way to prevent a recurrence and prevent a small problem from becoming a much more costly one. 

Of course, it’s always a good idea to have a go-to list of easy ways to resolve plumbing problems on your own. That’s just common sense. But if the DIY techniques don’t work, never hesitate to bring in the pros and get the job done right. 

Here are some practical ways to unclog a stuck drain:

DIY Drain Cleaning Methods

Remember to opt for the simplest, least forceful technique first, so you don’t put undue stress on the entire plumbing system’s pipes. Wear safety goggles to avoid getting chemicals in your eyes, and use waterproof work gloves to protect your hands.

• BS&V (baking-soda and vinegar): Pour a few cups of boiling water into the clogged drain. Then, pour one cup of baking soda directly into the drain. Next, prepare a mixture of one cup white vinegar and the same amount of water in a large plastic container. Heat the mixture in your microwave until it’s near the boiling point. Pour the super-hot stuff down the drain and let it sit for two hours. Test to see if the clog is gone by running hot water into the drain.
• Hanger: Take a wire clothing hanger and uncoil it completely. Use pliers to make a half-inch fish-hook on one end. Place the hooked back into the drain and wiggle it every which way, being careful not to force it in. Pull it up occasionally and throw debris into the trash. Repeat until the clog is gone or quickly rinses away with hot water.
• Plunger: Plungers are good if you know how to use them. Try putting some Vaseline on the rim to help create a suction lock. And use smaller plungers for small drains like sinks and tubs. Give five or six good plunges and wait one minute. Repeat this process five times, and then pour a cup of hot water into the drain to see if it’s clear.
• Fizzy Cola Soft Drink: The Pepsi/Coke drain cleaning hack has been around for more than a century. It works in many cases but can also hurt your pipes. So, please don’t use it as the first line of attack. Pour one cup of cola into the clogged drain and let it sit for a full hour. Pour warm water in and see if the clog is gone.
• Wet-Dry Vac: This method is a bit tricky but works well if you can create a suction opening around the drain. You can remove a plunger end, place it over the drain, and apply the vac to the hole. However you do it, let the vac run for a few minutes before testing your success with a cup of hot water in the drain.
• Dishwashing Liquid: This stuff works better than you might suspect, especially on sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets. Pour a cup of boiling water first, followed by eight ounces of dishwashing liquid. Plunge lightly to mix up the contents. Wait for a half-hour and test the drain.
• Plumbing Snake: You can buy snakes at local home stores, but they’re best avoided for DIY. We list them here as a caution, something not to use. Why? They can seriously damage your pipes, especially if you live in an older home.
• Washing Soda: Sodium carbonate is stronger than baking soda by a country mile. Run hot water into the drain, followed by a cup of washing soda. Let it stand for about 10 minutes, and then dump a few cups of boiling water down the drain.
• P-Trap Removal: Of DIY methods, this is usually the last resort, and for a good reason. It’s messy, and you need pliers and a bucket, which means crawling around on the floor. Use the pliers to loosen the lock rings on the small, curved pipe under your sink. Clean it out, and put it back on. Make sure to have a bucket underneath the line while working.

When You Need More Than a Plunger

If quickie DIY strategies don’t work as you wish, call (703) 570-6992 and let one of our team members know the problem. We dispatch help right away in emergencies, or you can book an appointment for a non-emergency call. Plumbing problems have a way of getting worse before they get better, so take action to avoid a significant mess.