From the kitchen sink, to the toilet bowl, your home’s water systems need to be kept clear if you don’t want to deal with some horrible damages. That is why knowing how to keep your drains cleaned is one of the most important home DIY skills that you can have. So, let’s break down 5 easy ways for drain cleaning London, and keep your home water systems ‘flowing smoothly’.
- Clean the Trap.
The ‘trap’ is the little U-shaped pipe that site underneath your sink. This area will need to be cleaned out pretty regularly. But don’t worry, it’s not a hard job! All you will need to do is shut off the water to the sink, and loosen the slip bolts that are on either end of the pipe. Once those are loose, place a bucket underneath the pipe and gently pull it out. From there, you will empty and clean out all of the gunk and debris into the bucket–an old toothbrush works wonders here! Once you have cleaned out the pipe, simply put it back and tighten the slip bolts back into place. There you have it!
- Baking Soda & Vinegar.
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book, your mom would be proud! Start by mixing 1dl of vinegar with 1dl of baking soda. Once it starts to fizz, immediately pour it down the problem drain. The fizzing will help to break up the gunk and debris over time. Let the mixture do its thing for 12-24hrs before pouring hot water down the drain after it. You should have a removed clog in no time!
- Boiling Water.
This is far and away the easiest method you will ever find. Simply boil some water on the kettle, and slowly pour it down the problem drain in three stages. Give a few seconds between each pour to allow the hot water to dislodge whatever might be clogged down there. Simple as that! You’d be surprised what a bit of boiling water can do!
- A Wire Hanger.
In the absence of a drain snake, a wire hanger can actually work wonders. Straighten out a wire hanger until it as straight as you can make it. At one end, bend the tip down until there is a very small hook–like a fishing hook. Then all you need to do is slide the hanger hook-side down the drain and begin ‘fishing’! You will want to gently twist and pull the hanger to grab on and release hair and gunk down there. Once you have got all that you can out, simply pour some hot water down there drain and you are good to go!
- Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda).
Be careful with this method, as caustic soda can be harmful to skin if touched. Make sure to protect your eyes, and wear rubber gloves/long sleeves! Once you are wearing your safety equipment, you can make your mixture. Simply purchase some sodium hydroxide from your local hardware store. Then mix in 28dl of water and 7.2dl of sodium hydroxide. Once it starts to foam, slowly pour it down the drain. Take the time to let it settle, and leave it to sit for 2-3hrs. Follow-up this process by pouring some hot water down the drain after the 2-3hr period. There you have it!
- Final Thoughts.
Most of the time a clogged drain can be fixed by using one of the easy methods mentioned above. However, in the presence of a more stubborn clog, never hesitate to reach out to a professional! You don’t want to cause more damage than you started with.
In the end, you always want your drains running smoothly. Happy drains, equals no pains!
