We clean the blockage with improvised means

How to clear clogged pipes at home: an overview of the best cleaning tools and methods

What causes a malfunction?

In many cases, the drain is broken due to a foreign object that got into the toilet either accidentally or intentionally. When small children live in an apartment, such a problem is difficult to avoid. Mastering the drain system, the child throws everything into the toilet, from toys to any household item.

We clean the blockage with improvised means
Clogged toilet - clean it yourself

An ill-conceived or defective plumbing design will certainly cause a malfunction in the sewer system. Rusty pipes with a loose inner surface cling to debris, the gradual accumulation of which will certainly lead to a drain problem.

We clean the blockage with improvised means
How to properly clean a clogged toilet

How to clean the pipe through the drain in the bath, shower or toilet

To eliminate the plug in the drains of the pipes of the bathroom or in the toilet, you can use all of the above folk methods (with the same limitations). But using a cable in the toilet will not work. The wire will simply go down the riser.

We clean the blockage with improvised means

For the toilet, it is easiest to use a plunger, however, it is important to choose the right bowl diameter

If we are talking about a shower or bath, then for a start it is recommended to try to rinse the drain with a shower hose.

Instruction:

  1. We remove the watering can and the elastic seal from the shower hose.
  2. We apply a watering can to one of the drain holes and let a strong pressure of water (preferably hot).
  3. Rinse for 5-10 minutes. If water flows out of other drain holes, then they must be closed with a rag.
  4. Repeat the procedure with all drain holes.

Back to chemicals

If the drain is completely blocked, purchase products that are marked "suitable for standing water", as other options simply will not cope with severe blockages.

Let's dwell on the most popular chemicals used by housewives to eliminate blockages.

After the specified time, supply water with strong pressure. If the plug cannot be eliminated immediately, use the tool again.

Debouche is a universal liquid for eliminating mechanical and fatty blockages. Scheme of application: pour 500 ml of liquid into the drain and leave for 3 hours.

With severe pollution, twice as much product is used, and the duration increases to 10-12 hours. Be sure to flush the pipes with plenty of water after using the Debouche.

Potkhan - a solution for removing any type of blockage in cast iron and plastic pipes. First, you need to lower the water level in the drain by 5 cm. Next, 100 ml of the product and 100 ml of boiling water are poured. After 5 minutes, warm water is supplied to the drain.

Mr. Muscle is a popular powder for eliminating fatty plugs. It penetrates into the most difficult places and, due to its special composition, removes not only blockages, but also harmful bacteria and unpleasant odors. According to the manufacturer, Mister Muscle copes with the problem in just 5-10 minutes.

Using specialized tools for cleaning sewer pipes, it is very important to follow the instructions on the package exactly. Otherwise, the active substances of the agent may damage the pipeline. Flup - a cleaner that dissolves fat, organic and hair plugs

The tool is quite caustic, so when working with it, be sure to arm yourself with protective clothing, a respirator and rubber gloves.

Flup is a cleaner that dissolves fatty, organic and hair plugs. The tool is quite caustic, so when working with it, be sure to arm yourself with protective clothing, a respirator and rubber gloves.

When adding Floop to the drain, it is important to avoid getting it on plumbing, as well as on exposed parts of the body or clothing. The product is poured with hot water and left for the time specified in the instructions.

Then the drain is washed abundantly with cold water.

Tiret Turbo is a universal solvent available in the form of a gel and granules.In the first case, it is poured into the drain and left for 5-10 minutes. Using the granular version, it is first poured into the drain, and then 500 ml of hot water is added and left for at least 10 minutes.

It is forbidden to use the last remedy longer than the time specified in the instructions. The active substances in its composition can cause destruction of the pipe walls.

On our website there is an article where we examined in detail the best chemicals for cleaning sewer pipes. More details - read on.

How to clean a blockage in the sink with baking soda and vinegar

Pour into the drain hole 150 gr. baking soda, and pour the same amount of 9% vinegar on top. To prevent the resulting foam from flying out (and a very violent process of a chemical reaction will begin), close the hole with a stopper.

We clean the blockage with improvised meansCleaning the blockage with baking soda and vinegar.

With no less efficiency, soda can be replaced with the well-known Alka-Seltzer tablets. For cleansing, you will need a couple of tablets, after which you need to pour a glass of vinegar. After 2 minutes run hot water at full power. In addition to the main work - removing the cork, the drug will save the sink from an unpleasant odor.

We clean the clog in the sink with baking soda and vinegar

This method is very easy to apply, and the fact is that baking soda, when it reacts with vinegar or boiling water, causes an alkaline chemical reaction inside the tube. And it turns out that lye seems to corrode fats, hair and small organic debris - all this, in most cases, consists of overload.

The method for cleaning a clogged pipe with soda and boiling water is as follows:

  1. 1 liter of boiling water is poured into the drain or sink and left for 15 minutes.
  2. After 15 minutes, you should pick up the plunger and move up and down to try and "break" the air pressure blockage that this tool creates.

If that doesn't help, pour a glass of plain baking soda into the hole and fill it with boiling water. In this case, the water should be three times as much as the baking soda. It is necessary that the soda be, as it were, under load and at the same time "approach" to the accumulation as close as possible.

You need to wait 20 minutes and use the plunger again. Theoretically, if the obstacle is small, it should be removed.

Note! If you see that the situation has improved, but not completely, try adding vinegar instead of boiling water - the alkaline reaction will be much stronger. Only when using vinegar, it can not be heated. After this substance is poured, the drain hole must be closed with a stopper, because the solution will foam and will simply come out without a stopper.

Read also:  Which pump to choose for pumping water

Pipe cleaning with baking soda, vinegar and chlorine. This method of removing the cork is used for severe blockage.

It is not completely harmless to people, but is considered one of the most effective options for getting rid of body fat and limescale in pipes.

This method of removing the cork is used for severe blockage. It is not completely harmless to people, but is considered one of the most effective options for getting rid of body fat and limescale in pipes.

  1. Open windows.
  2. Remove excess water from the sink.
  3. Pour into the drain hole 50 gr. food and soda ash.
  4. After half an hour, pour 150 ml. vinegar and 150 ml. bleach with bleach and plug the hole with a cork (rag).
  5. Exit the room.
  6. After 30 minutes, flush the drain with plenty of water.
  7. Don't forget to ventilate the room well.

All in all, it turns out that baking soda and vinegar is the easiest pipe cleaner you can get.

Now let's talk about the use of chemicals.

Mechanical ways to clean the sewer

These methods are among the most cardinal and effective. When chemical-thermal methods have exhausted themselves and have not brought the desired effect, they turn to mechanical methods for help and use them to remove blockages in pipes at home.

Siphon cleaning

If the cause of the blockage is in the immediate vicinity of the place where the water drains, then it is much easier to disassemble the siphon and rinse it thoroughly under running hot water. The siphon performs the function of a hydro-barrier, preventing the ingress of unpleasant odors from the sewer into the apartment. Therefore, the appearance of an unattractive amber, combined with a difficult outflow of water, indicates that it was the siphon that was clogged.

Using a plunger

This French word is called the simplest hand-held plumbing tool, consisting of a rubber valve and a wooden handle. The principle of operation of a plunger is similar to that of a pump. The drain hole is closed with a rubber valve, and then the water flow is injected with reciprocating movements, first in one direction, then in the opposite direction. For more efficient operation, it is necessary to plug the emergency drain hole with the help of improvised means (for example, a wine cork). The plunger is effective if the blockage is located near the drain hole, usually in the siphon.

Plumbing cable

A special flexible cable is made of metal and consists of an outer sheath, inside which the cable itself is located. At one end of this device there is a special handle for rotation, at the opposite end there are hooks and grippers, with which the blockage is cleared. The cable is used to clean places located much further than the siphon, so it is better to remove the latter before starting work, since its bends and knees will not make it possible to push the cable to the desired depth. The cable is rotated clockwise, as rotation in the opposite direction can damage its sheath.

It just so happened in our family that we always buy Mole to eliminate blockages in the sewer. We've been using this product for as long as I can remember. Most often for prevention purposes. If something is serious, then the husband uses a special flexible cable. With it, you can extract a whole bunch of any, excuse me, garbage from the sewer pipe.

Nadezhda, 28 years old

As a person with a higher education, I once graduated from MEPhI with honors, but for the past few years I have been forced to work as a plumber, I can say the following. Do not attempt to clear any major blockage in the sewer system yourself. It won't lead to anything good, but it's easy to do bad things. Call immediately professionals who have more experience and the necessary tools are available.

Nikolai Alexandrovich, 40 years old

I don't believe in all these modern chemists. They will write anyone, but in fact the bleach is solid, there is nothing to breathe. Another thing is the old grandfather's way, which my mother taught me, the kingdom of heaven to her.We take soda ash and pour it into the hole, and therefore pour five liters of steep boiling water there. And that's it, no smell to you, no stink, and the sewerage is as good as new.

Zinaida Sergeevna, 65 years old

Originally posted 2018-03-03 06:29:28.

Prevention and maintenance of cleanliness in places where blockages form

The best way to deal with any problem is prevention. In the case of frequent blockages, this tactic is also suitable. To eliminate traffic jams, it is necessary to deal with the causes of their formation. If your system consists of old metal pipes, replace them with new ones. Yes, this is an expensive procedure, but it will help improve the performance of the sewer and forget about the problems of blockages for a while.

Periodically carry out activities aimed at maintaining the cleanliness of the system. They may include the following procedures:

  • Periodic cleaning. Do not be lazy to disassemble the siphon and other parts of the system every 5-6 months. This event will help get rid of many drain problems and increase the durability of plumbing.
  • Flushing the system. Flush the drain system every 10 to 15 days with hot water. Just turn on the faucet and let it sit for a few minutes. This procedure can reduce the risk of fatty deposits on the pipes.
  • Install a strainer on the drain. Coarse filters prevent large objects from entering the drain. Such nets are cheap and are sold in any department of the supermarket. They are highly efficient.

Following these simple preventive measures will prevent many blockage problems.

How to clean and clear blockages

There are many popular ways to clean the sink quickly and effectively.Everything for this can be found in the house or stock up in advance at a hardware store. And most importantly, it will cost a penny.

You can quickly and easily clear a clogged kitchen sink without spending a dime.

boiling water

You can remove the blockage in the sink at home, consisting of a fatty layer, using hot water.

Hot water removes small blockages.

  1. Turn on hot water at full power for 15-20 minutes. A strong jet will pierce the resulting plug, and the high temperature will dissolve fat deposits.
  2. Heat water in a kettle and pour boiling water directly into the drain. This instantly eliminates sebaceous layers. The method is suitable provided that the house has metal and cast iron pipes. If your system is made of plastic, this method is not suitable. This may melt and deform the pipe.

plunger

Plunger is considered an effective and safe remedy for removing blockages. The method is suitable for all pipes, since the weed plug is knocked out by the pressure created by the rubber or silicone hemisphere of the plunger.

Plunger is the most effective and free way to remove clogs.

It is important here that the diameter of the nozzle is much larger than the drain hole. So the compression pressure will be more efficient and effective

soda and salt

A mixture of soda and salt can be poured into the drain at night. The crystals will gradually dissolve the formed fatty plug. In the morning, turn on a strong pressure of hot water for 5 minutes.

Read also:  How to choose a rimless toilet

Baking soda helps to break through a very small cork and remove an unpleasant odor.

There is another way: take two parts of soda and one part of salt. Dilute the mixture with water to a liquid state and pour into the pipe.After 10 minutes, turn on hot water to wash out the insides of the pipes with a saline-soda solution. The same tool can be used to clean the sink in the kitchen.

Baking soda is a cheap way to get rid of clogged sinks.

Vinegar

The vinegar method is best used for a sewer system made from resistant materials. Plastic can deteriorate from such a strong agent.

Pour a glass of soda into the drain, pour a glass of 9% vinegar on top.

It is important that the bubbling reaction occurs at the site of the blockage, and not in your cup. Therefore, pour soda into the drain hole, and pour 9% table vinegar on top of it

The bubbling will dissolve, reduce and expel grease and stuck-on solids.

Vinegar is an effective and affordable remedy.

A vacuum cleaner

A vacuum cleaner set to the air blowing function can help clean and push through the blockage. This innovative method is suitable for light blockages. With a serious garbage plug created over a long time, the vacuum cleaner may not be able to cope and significantly aggravate the situation.

A vacuum cleaner will also help you deal with clogged sinks.

Wrap the pipe of the vacuum cleaner with a clean cloth and fix it in this position. Attach it to the drain and turn on the vacuum cleaner. Under pressure, the blockage breaks through and is pushed into the sewer.

Boer

The drill works on the principle of a cable, familiar to every home master. The accessory has a large thickness and length. Along the entire length, the drill is wrapped with a strong spring spiral, which additionally collects small rubbish.

A drill can quickly solve the problem of clogging the sink.

This is a great option for clearing wide sewer pipes, especially around bends and bends.

Cable

The metal cable is introduced into the clogged drain with rotational movements.At its end is one or more hooks, a brush or a point. This is a universal helper for cleaning pipes of any material. If you handle the cable with care, it can serve you for decades.

A plumber solves a clogged sink with a cable.

When there is no such device in the house, and you need to clean the sewer immediately, try making it from an ordinary plastic bottle. Cut it in a spiral so that a long, elastic ribbon is formed.

Use a cable to clean the sink.

Such a plastic cable must be inserted into the pipe carefully, with screwing movements, so that the material does not tear and does not bring even more problems with the sewerage in the kitchen.

What not to do

There is a lot of advice on the Internet today on what to do, if the toilet is clogged, and how to clean it at home. However, not all of them are effective.

  • Cleaners like Fairy, although they are effective in removing hardened grease from dishes, are hardly useful in the fight against cleaning the toilet. They are simply not able to dissolve even a thin cork of organic origin.
  • The same applies to Coca-Cola, Pepsi and any other product. It is easier to buy ready-made household chemicals.
  • Products such as whiteness or bleach will not help either. The latter is relevant only if, if you use it regularly. However, the presence of harmful vapors does not allow this.

Recommendations

Difficult blockages can be removed mechanically. To do this, it is enough to have a plunger at home. This tool can be called the "ambulance" of an amateur plumber. With its help, a vacuum effect is created that fights difficult traffic jams.

The plunger is very easy to use. Fill the sink with water and press the plunger against the drain hole.Create a vacuum by pressing the suction cup several times. Pull the plunger off with a quick movement. Repeat the procedure several times.

If the kitchen has a two-section sink, then one plunger will not help. It is necessary to use two tools and carry out movements at the same time.

To break through complex old blockages, you need a ruff. This tool is a cable with a spiral at the end. It is inserted into the drain hole and advanced to the site of blockage. Then, with the handle, which is located at the other end of the cable, circular movements are created. The spiral moves deep into the cork, destroying it. After carrying out such an action, you need to use a reagent to completely clean the pipes from deposits.

Rope - an effective way

If the plunger turns out to be useless, then the problem is much more serious. We'll have to resort to heavier artillery - a plumbing cable. The length of the plumbing cable is usually no more than 3.5 m. In order to clear the blockage in the pipe, it is necessary to insert it into the drain hole.

Slowly rotating the handle located at one end of the cable, it is necessary to insert the device until it rests on the blockage with the other end. With a sharp rotational movement, you need to pick up the blockage in the pipe and perform a back and forth movement, thus clearing the clogged pipe.

We clean the blockage with improvised meansPlumbing cable with nozzles for clearing blockages in pipes

On the opposite side of the handle, the cable has the shape of a drill, due to which the mud plug is loosened and its small fractions immediately pass further along the sewer, and the main part of the blockage clings to the cable and is removed. When removing the cable from the drain hole, you should immediately wipe it from dirt so as not to stain all the contents of the pipe.

Do not work with the cable alone. It is difficult for one person to cope with both the direction of the cable and its rotation in the pipe. In addition, the cable is made of elastic steel, and can spring and injure you.

Useful information

Tips to help deal with clogged pipes:

  1. To increase the efficiency of the procedure, after adding the components to the pipe, it must be closed with a stopper. This will increase the pressure and the blockage will be completely eliminated.
  2. The following combinations cannot be used: “soda ash and baking soda”, “soda ash and vinegar”.
  3. If the blockage is dense, before adding vinegar to the pipe, it is heated to 45-50 degrees.
  4. The longer the product stays in the pipe, the better, so it is recommended to apply the mixture at night or before leaving for work.
  5. Soda and vinegar are used as mono-means. They are not combined with other chemicals as the reaction can be unpredictable.

If you are interested in how to clear a blockage in a pipe, sink or toilet, take a look at this section.

Causes of blockages

The presence of curved pipes makes the toilet vulnerable to clogging, no matter how carefully and carefully it is operated. But it has been noticed that more often the owners of old faience structures with cast-iron pipes still face problems.

Over time, they are covered from the inside with various salt deposits and prevent the passage of the water flow. Chemicals that can be purchased at any supermarket or hardware store do a good job with such organic deposits.

Cleaning agent for clogs in sinks, bathtubs, toilet bowls

The second reason is the ingress of foreign objects: small children's toys, felt-tip pens and colored pencils, paper, food waste - whatever. And chemistry is unlikely to help here, you will have to use mechanical tools, for example, a plunger. But he will not be able to remove larger items such as a floor cloth, he will need a special plumbing cable.

Read also:  10 things in your house that can explode unexpectedly

If a cat lives in the apartment and you use litter for the tray, carefully read the disposal rules. The fact is that mineral, clumping and absorbent fillers are made from clay. Getting into the sewer, under the influence of water, the clay tightly cements the duct, and only a professional can remove the concrete plug.

Aspirin effervescent tablets and baking soda are all you need

It should be emphasized that you need to take exactly the "pops" that will boil in water when dissolved. Even if there are none in the house, they can be bought at the nearest pharmacy at an affordable price.

So we armed ourselves with a few effervescent aspirin tablets and a pack of soda, what to do next?

You need to take two aspirin tablets and just a few tablespoons of baking soda. First, aspirin comes to the fore. Tablets should be thrown directly into the clogged drain hole. You need to wait until they dissolve and hiss, and then the baking soda comes into play. Now, after them, two or three tablespoons of soda should be poured into the drain.

We clean the blockage with improvised means

These ingredients are excellent corrosives and cleansers, and they are not so alkaline as to damage metal or plastic drain pipes. Gradually, the blockage will begin to dissolve and the water will go away.After completing the procedure, wash the sink with detergent.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this method of eliminating blockage. It is as simple as two and two, and it uses simple tools at hand. So this method can be used regularly, even as a preventive measure, to prevent clogging of pipes. It is best not to bring the situation to a critical point, when water simply will not pass through the pipes. Therefore, it is better to drain all the leftovers into the toilet, send water there after washing the greasy pan.

Folk methods of dealing with the problem

If there are no chemicals, and the blockage is insignificant, then you can clean the pipes using folk remedies. They are safe not only for human health, but also for pipes.

Boiling water and salt

A solution of hot water and salt eliminates small plugs. But this method is not suitable for plastic pipes, since the maximum temperature they can withstand is 70 degrees. First, salt is poured into the drain hole, and after 20-30 minutes liquid is poured.

A solution of baking soda and vinegar

This method will allow you to clean the drain system from fatty deposits. 200 g of powder is poured into the hole, after which 200 ml of acetic acid is poured there.

To improve the effect, soda can be calcined in a pan to a golden hue. For the reaction to be successful, the hole in the sink must be closed. After 15-20 minutes, the pipe should be washed with hot water under pressure. This method will only help with relatively recent blockages. Old traffic jams require drastic measures.

soda and salt

The drain is cleaned as follows: first, the dry components are mixed (half a glass each). The composition is poured into the drain hole and left for 10-12 hours.After that, the pipe is washed with hot water.

Lemon juice or acid

Acid crystals are poured into the siphon hole, then it is filled with water and vinegar. An acidic environment is created to clean the pipes from limescale. Acid is poured into the pipe in an amount of 100 g, and then 250 ml of boiling water is poured. After 20 minutes, the pipe is washed with boiling water. If lemon juice is used, then it is simply poured into the drain for an hour. Requires 100 ml of liquid.

Alka-Zeltzer

This is a medical preparation, which contains citric acid and acetylsalicylic acid. Additionally, it contains soda.

When interacting with water, these components enter into a chemical reaction. To clean the drain, it is enough to throw 2-3 tablets of the product into it and clog the hole.

The procedure lasts no more than 20 minutes.

washing powder

In this case, a granular agent is required. 2 measuring spoons of powder are poured into the pipe. Next, boiling water is poured into it for 5 minutes.

Vinegar, baking soda and chlorine

Before cleaning with the use of these components, all liquid is removed from the sink. Soda ash and baking soda (50 g each) are poured into the drain, and after half an hour vinegar and chlorine (150 ml each) are poured into it. The hole must be well sealed, otherwise a pungent smell will appear in the room. After 40 minutes, the drain is washed.

Soda and vinegar for cleaning pipes: 6 ways to clean the sewer at home There can be various reasons for clogged pipes. To combat the problem, various store tools are used, for example, Mole. However, you can get rid of it with the means that can be found in ...

Rock salt

You can clean plugs in cast-iron pipes with coarse salt.To obtain the reaction, vinegar essence is additionally required. First, 300 g of salt is poured into the pipe, 2 liters of boiling water are poured, as well as 100 ml of essence. After 30 minutes, the drain is washed. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.

Alkali-based preparations

Alkaline products clean well with fatty deposits. Popular is the drug KEMI in orange granules

You will have to work with them carefully, as the substance is caustic. To clean the sewer pipe, pour 1 cap of the product into the sink and pour it with hot water

Alkaline-based liquid cleaners are more effective at removing clogs.

Caustic soda

Strong blockage can be cleaned with caustic soda (caustic soda). Powder in the amount of 2-3 is placed in a metal container and 12 liters of liquid (cold) are poured.

The composition is gently stirred for half an hour.

It is important to take precautions so that the composition does not get on the skin or mucous membranes. The powder must be completely dissolved

After that, the bucket is put on fire so that the mixture warms up to 70 degrees. Half of the composition for cleaning is poured into the drain hole and left for 1.5-2 hours. Further, the remaining part of the substance is introduced into the pipe, after which again wait 2 hours.

After the action of soda is completed, the pipeline is washed with hot water.

Conclusion

The choice of a method that is effective in one case or another depends on the specific location of the clogging of the plumbing system, so sometimes you will have to try more than one method or even a combination of several to fix the problem. You should worry about the necessary weapons in advance, get a plunger, plumbing cable, stock up on soda, etc.The knowledge and skills of cleaning the sink from dirt are not to be worn over your shoulders; they can be useful to you not only at home, but also at a party. Putting them into practice, you can feel like a real kitchen wizard.

If none of the methods proposed above worked, then it's time to call the wizard. Probably, the blockage has formed and clogged too deep, beyond the reach of the tools, or it is man-made.

Rating
Website about plumbing

We advise you to read

Where to fill the powder in the washing machine and how much powder to pour