Have you ever been standing in the shower only to look down and realize that your soapy, dirty shower water is now up to your ankles? Ick. Or how about when you try to drain the sink after doing dishes and the food particles seem to circle endlessly without going anywhere? Double ick.
If you'd like to get your drains up and running again but you can't or don't want to call a plumber, check out a few of these helpful tips to try:
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1. Try a homemade remedy
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down your drain. Then add a whole cup of vinegar, cover the drain and allow it to sit for at least five minutes. Rinse with a large pan of boiling water, Bob Vila recommended.
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down your drain. Then add a whole cup of vinegar, cover the drain and allow it to sit for at least five minutes. Rinse with a large pan of boiling water, Bob Vila recommended.
2. Pour salt and boiling water down the sink
Try pouring some salt and boiling water down the drain to loosen clogs and break up food particles.
Try pouring some salt and boiling water down the drain to loosen clogs and break up food particles.
3. Remove hair from the tub
In most cases, you can simply remove the plug from the drain in your bathtub and use a snake or a long wire hanger to fish out the built up hair from the drain. The trickiest part of this method is knowing how to remove your drain, check out these tips from The Family Handyman and find your specific plug.
In most cases, you can simply remove the plug from the drain in your bathtub and use a snake or a long wire hanger to fish out the built up hair from the drain. The trickiest part of this method is knowing how to remove your drain, check out these tips from The Family Handyman and find your specific plug.
4. Try a plunger
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. Grab your plunger and try suctioning the drain. If you try this you'll want to cover other drains in the sink. (If your dishwasher empties into your sink, clamp off the hose). Add some water into the basin of your sink and plunge rapidly until the clog is loosened.
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. Grab your plunger and try suctioning the drain. If you try this you'll want to cover other drains in the sink. (If your dishwasher empties into your sink, clamp off the hose). Add some water into the basin of your sink and plunge rapidly until the clog is loosened.
5. Clean your dish disposal
If your kitchen sink is clogged, try cleaning out your dish disposal. After cleaning out the disposal with baking soda and vinegar, try tossing in a few ice cubes and salt and running the disposal until the ice is completely broken up. Rinse with hot water.
If your kitchen sink is clogged, try cleaning out your dish disposal. After cleaning out the disposal with baking soda and vinegar, try tossing in a few ice cubes and salt and running the disposal until the ice is completely broken up. Rinse with hot water.
Note: If you only have one slow drain, the problem is probably only with that train. However, if you notice several slow drains in your home, you could have a more severe problem that does require the assistance of a professional.
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