An effective drain clog cleaner with ingredients found in every kitchen

Removing blockages mechanically

To clean the pipes with a plunger, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Place the tool over the drain channel.
2. Open the water and draw it into the sink so as to cover the bowl of the plunger.
3. Make sure there is no water under the plunger.
4. Perform 15-20 vertical swinging movements without lifting the tool from the surface.

The procedure for using the rope is as follows:

• first dismantle the siphon;
• the end of the cable with a handle is inserted into the sewer pipe and, turning it counterclockwise, is gradually immersed;
• during operation, the cable is periodically pulled out for cleaning;
• the procedure is repeated until the blockage is completely eliminated;
• at the end of work, mount the siphon again and flush the system with hot water.

Advantages and disadvantages of home remedies

Do-it-yourself pipe cleaning solutions have many advantages over factory-made products:

• For the preparation of home-made compositions, inexpensive components are used that are always at hand. This is especially true if you have to deal with blockage far from civilization (for example, in the country).
• The cost of factory tools can exceed the cost of components for a home-made composition by an order of magnitude.
• Industrially manufactured products are highly toxic and chemically aggressive, which makes them hazardous in storage.

At the same time, the effectiveness of home-made compounds, at best, approaches the effectiveness of factory products. Therefore, DIY solutions should be used to deal with small blockages, as well as a preventive measure.

Subject to the technology of use and application in their niche, home-made products show a fairly high efficiency, and the low cost of the components often makes them the best choice for solving the problem of blockages.

Cleaning Prohibitions

When starting to clean the clogged sink in the kitchen, you need to remember a number of prohibitions:

You can not start punching the cork in the presence of dishes in the sink. It and food should be removed in advance.
Do not work without rubber gloves

This is especially important when using purchased chemicals, since such products have an aggressive composition.
Chemicals that are not intended for this purpose should not be used to clean pipes. They can give off toxic fumes and even damage pipes.
You should not pour all the funds that come to hand into the drain at the same time, as this can harm communications.

How to clean a siphon

If the blockage is local, then most often, it is located in the siphon.

Do not forget before unscrewing the siphon, substitute the container

Instruction:

1. We unscrew the plastic nut that clamps the tube in the drain siphon.
2. We pull out the siphon and lower it into a basin for further cleaning (we remove all the dirt with a hand or a brush).
3. Pour the soda-vinegar mixture into the pipe connected to the sewer (as described above).
4. After the end of the reaction, pour a glass of vinegar there.
5. Repeat adding the vinegar until the hissing stops.
6. After 15–20 minutes, pour 2–3 liters of hot water into the pipe (not boiling water!).
7. We fix the siphon in place, tighten the plastic nut.

Steps 3-6 are necessary if there is a blockage in the pipe.If cleaning the siphon is a regular event that is not caused by water obstruction, then you do not need to use a soda-vinegar mixture.

How to prevent clogged drains

Of course, it is much easier to take timely precautions than to clean sewer pipes later. The following activities should be carried out:. The following activities should be carried out:

The following activities should be carried out:

• regularly, at least once every two weeks, the drain should be washed with boiling water;
• chemicals, household and food waste should not be thrown into the toilet or sink;
• use a fat separator.

Vinegar and soda can be used to periodically flush cast iron and plastic pipelines. In some systems, it is enough to create conditions for a powerful flow of water so that the pipes remain clean.

On sale you can find chemical pipe cleaners in the form of gels or granules that prevent grease from accumulating on the walls of the sewer. Approximately once a week it is desirable to carry out vinegar cleaning of plums.

Fat separators are a very useful invention. They are mounted under the sink on the drain hole.

The principle of operation of such a separator is as follows:

1. First, water with fat and debris passes through the first filter, where coarse cleaning takes place.
2. Fat accumulations are retained on the second filter, so that relatively clean water is drained.

It is worth noting that prevention methods significantly extend the life of the sewer pipeline and save the owners from many difficulties, from an unpleasant odor to a complicated outflow of water.

What are the methods for effective cleaning of sewer pipes

Usually, when answering this question, the first thing that comes to mind is a plunger, and this is absolutely correct when it comes to a small, typical blockage. However, sometimes there are situations of severe clogging that are not taken with a plunger. Then the question of how to clean sewer pipes at home can really be puzzling.

All cleaning methods can be divided into:

• mechanical;
• chemical.

In 1 case, no substances and cleaning agents are used - blockages are removed by mechanically cleaning the pipes.
Chemical methods are associated with the use of special tools that can easily decompose substances that have clogged the pipe. It is clear that both groups of methods can be used together - one does not interfere with the other.

How to remove folk remedies?

Even simple homemade recipes help to solve the blockage problem. But it is better to use them in cases where the blockage is not strong. If the water from the sink does not drain completely, it must be scooped out before cleaning.

Boiling water

This is the easiest and most affordable.

Procedure:

1. Bring at least 1.5 liters of water to a boil.
2. Drain boiling water into the sink, trying to direct the jet into the drain.
3. If the water began to leave, then after 1.5 hours the procedure must be repeated. Otherwise, you will have to try another option for cleaning the drain.

This method is suitable for flushing the blockage only if the pipes are not made of plastic. Otherwise, only water with a temperature of up to 70 degrees can be poured into the sewer. Violation of this requirement may result in damage to the plastic pipeline.

Vinegar with soda against body fat

The baking soda and vinegar method can be used to clear clogs caused by leftover food, especially greasy food.

Procedure:

• remove all water from the sink;
• pour ½ pack of soda into the drain hole;
• pour ½ cup of vinegar;
• plug the drain hole to ensure that the chemical reaction takes place in the pipes, and not on the surface of the sink;
• wait until the chemical reaction ends with the formation of foam;
• pour 1.5 liters of boiling water (hot water) into the drain hole of the sink;
• run cold water for 3 minutes to flush the drain.

Cleaning with soda and vinegar can be used prophylactically.

hangover pills

If the blockage is not strong, and there was no soda at hand, you can use effervescent hangover tablets. Alka-Seltzer will do.

The application is simple:

1. In a saucepan, mix 2-3 tablets of the drug with a glass of vinegar.
2. Quickly pour the foaming solution into the drain.
3. Plug the hole immediately with a rag.
4. After 10 minutes, turn on the water under pressure.

Alternative use of tablets:

1. Grind and pour 2 tablets into the drain.
2. Pour in a glass of vinegar.
3. Plug the drain hole in the sink.
4. Wait a few minutes for the reaction to pass.
5. Run hot water.

Salt and soda

deposits on the sewers in the kitchen are prone to deposits of grease that enters the pipes when washing dishes.

Application order:

1. combine in a container 4 tablespoons of salt with 2 tablespoons of soda;
2. pour two glasses of water;
3. pour into the drain;
4. plug the drain hole of the kitchen sink;
5. withstand 10 minutes;
6. run hot water.

With old blockages, this method can not cope.

Rope application

How to break through sewer pipes if they are clogged? The best fixture in this case would be a plumbing cable, which is also called a flexible shaft. It is made from durable steel wire. This device works on the principle of a spring that can bend well. A spiral is installed at the end of the cable, on which various nozzle tools (scrapers, ruffs, hooks) can be installed. On the other side of the flexible shaft there is a handle. It greatly facilitates the work with the tool.

The process of cleaning the sewer in a private house with a plumbing cable is as follows:

1. It is recommended to partially disassemble the clogged plumbing fixture (you need to remove the siphon).
2. The working part of the cable should be inserted into the sewer as much as possible.
3. Making rotational movements with the handle, you need to try to push the cable forward.
4. If a blockage is detected, increase the rotation speed. This will help push it through quickly.
5. In parallel with the movement of the cable, you can turn on hot water or use chemical compounds. This will help clean up the drain more efficiently.

Sewer cleaning cable

Granules

2. Unicum Tornado

This granular preparation helps to obtain an excellent result even if the case is completely hopeless - the water does not go away, and it is impossible to find out the specific cause of the blockage. As the people who used this tool themselves say: the products are characterized by speed in both the bathroom and the kitchen. The reason for this lies in the active substance used: these granules contain a high concentration of sodium hydroxide.We must not forget that it has a high level of causticity, so when working with it, you will have to adhere to instructions for use, use various personal protective equipment for the skin, respiratory organs - thick rubber gloves, goggles, respirators, and so on. By the way, it is strictly forbidden to pre-mix the granules with water. Work must be done in room with good natural ventilation or forced type.

Products act very quickly - the whole operation, as a rule, takes no more than three to five minutes. During this time, the granules manage to get to the blockage, simultaneously releasing active substances from themselves, which quickly dissolve in water and begin to actively act on the contaminants on the pipe walls. When the product reaches the very blockage, it dissolves fatty deposits, breaks down food residues and grinds hair to a powder state. As a result, it is much faster to break through the blockage than when using products manufactured in other formats. Store in a dry place, away from children and foodstuffs.

Advantages:

• Clears blockage as quickly and efficiently as possible;
• Completely removes contaminants from pipe walls;
• One package is enough for a long time.

Flaws:

Extreme care is required, as this is a very strong chemical. Granules to eliminate blockage Unicum Tornado

Granules to eliminate blockage Unicum Tornado

1. BAGI Pothan (600 g)

In the first place in this section of the best sewer cleaners is Israeli-made products, which are of excellent quality and efficiency.Works great with pipes made of any materials - cast iron, plastic, aluminum, iron, and so on. This is a combined remedy that includes not only caustic alkali, but also a whole set of inorganic acids, various additives and surfactants. In percentage terms, alkali is the most here - about 30% of the total production. There are much fewer active substances: from 5 to 15%. The formula of the composition is chosen in such a way that it is able to cope not only with fats and food residues, but also with hair, animal hair and even rust. The products are quite expensive, but consumed slowly, after its use it will not be necessary to carry out prophylaxis for about 4-5 months.

When working with granules, it is necessary to ensure high-quality ventilation of the room. Tiles, marble, enamel and hands should be protected from contact with this composition. Water dilution is strictly prohibited. You need to work with gloves and a respirator, since when the blockage is dissolved, gas is formed that will come out of the sewer pipe. It not only has an unpleasant odor, but also can cause serious harm to human health.

Advantages:

• Acts very quickly;
• Eliminates any blockages, regardless of their nature;
• Does not harm sewer pipes;
• The packaging is equipped with a child protection system.

Flaws:

• It is very expensive;
• When it enters into a chemical reaction with particles of blockage, seething begins, smoke is released, an unpleasant and very dangerous gas for health.

BAGI Pothan (600 g)

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.

Mechanical ways to fix the problem at home

The task of this exposure option is to break the cork into small parts, which can then be removed from the surface or they themselves will freely wash off into the sewer. Mechanical cleaning methods are especially effective in the kitchen, where food debris is most often the cause of traffic jams.

plunger

This is a kind of first aid for an amateur plumber, that is, each of us. It is easy to use the plunger, and the hydraulic column, which is formed due to the vacuum effect.

Vantuz is necessary cleaning tool a plum that should be in every home

Instruction:

We collect water in the sink.
We press the plunger to the drain and press.
We make several translational movements, and the last, the strongest, tear off the plunger from the drain hole

It is important to correctly calculate the force here, otherwise the parts of the sink may be damaged.
If necessary, repeat 3-4 times.

Please note: if you have a two-section sink in your kitchen, then it is better to get two plungers - for both bowls. Moreover, the cleaning procedure should be carried out simultaneously (that is, you can’t do without an assistant)

If there is no second plunger, then you can close the second drain with a rag, pressing it tightly against the hole.

Plumbing cable

A brush or spiral on a steel wire with a handle does an excellent job of deep cleaning pipes.

Modern cable models are equipped with a reel handle, but such spiral cleaners are expensive

Instruction:

1. We place the brush or spiral in the drain.
2. We scroll the device, directing it either away from us, down, or towards us, pulling the cork out.
3. From time to time we supply water to the sink so that the cork elements pass into the sewer.

Metal pipes are cleaned with a metal cable, and you can also get rid of rust from the inner walls. For plastic, a flexible cable made of twisted wire is used in a “case” made of an elastic sheath, avoiding strong mechanical pressure.

Video: how to clean the pipe to the central riser

Alternative to the cable - improvised means

What to do if there is no cable in the house? Call on imagination and folk experience to help.

Wire rope is convenient to clean sinks with narrow drain holes

Instruction:

1. From top to bottom, we glue the bottle with strips of adhesive tape so that we get a spiral. Draw lines along the border of the adhesive tape with a marker.
2. We cut the bottle along the marked lines.
3. Leave the bottom - this will be the handle.
4. We make notches in a spiral at an angle of 45 degrees.

5. We insert the cable into the drain and slowly pull it out by the “handle”: garbage that has accumulated in the pipe will cling to the “fringe” of the spiral.

Conclusion: from mechanical methods for plastic pipes, only a flexible cable or a home-made cable from a plastic bottle is suitable.

Mechanical ways to eliminate blockages

This method allows you to break the blockage into small fragments, which can then be removed from the inner surface of the pipes. Perhaps they will be washed off by the flow of water into the sewer system. Methods of mechanical action most of all suitable for the kitchenwhere congestion is created by food waste.

We use a plunger

A plunger is a great helper when removing small blockages. This device can be used by anyone, even completely unfamiliar with plumbing work. The device consists of a handle and a rubber bowl. To use, you need:

1. Get water into the sink.
2. Press the rubber bowl against the drain hole and push the handle.
3. Make several progressive movements. Finally, we tear off the plunger from the drain. When working with this device, the main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise the sink may be damaged.
4. If necessary, this operation is carried out several times.

Removing blockage with a plunger

We break through the blockage with a plumbing cable

In the event that the blockage is old and rather dense, then without special plumbing cable, which is sold in hardware stores, is indispensable. This device is suitable for cleaning steel and cast iron pipes. With his can also be used to remove rust. We insert the cable into the hole in the sewer pipe and begin to gently push it until it hits the blockage. After that, we begin to slowly turn the device, feeding it forward, until it begins to move freely.After you pull the cable out of the pipe, you need to put hot water into it for a few minutes to wash away the remaining dirt.

Cleaning the sewer system with a plumbing cable

Related article:

Chemical cleaning

You can also remove blockages in pipes at home with the help of household chemicals, of which there are a lot on sale. True, before starting work with them, you should ensure your safety - put on gloves, goggles, a mask and take care of airing the room.

It is worth noting that it is preferable to use any other cleaning method than a chemical one, since the chemicals contain acids and caustic alkalis. In addition, you should not combine several agents of different composition, otherwise, if they react with each other, you can seriously damage the pipeline.

The sequence of dry cleaning is as follows:

• according to the instructions, the required amount of the active substance is poured into the drain channel;
• pour about 0.5 liters of water there;
• leave the composition for 10-15 minutes for the reaction;
• spill the system with plenty of water - about 2-4 buckets.

If the blockage in the pipe is very thick, then mechanical cleaning should be used.

The use of a plunger for sewage

A plunger can be used to clean the sewer pipes in the bathroom, toilet or sink. This is a very effective tool that operates on a dual principle. It creates pressure, which allows you to move the resulting plug, and destroys it. As a result, they are easily removed from the sewer under the flow of water.

The use of a plunger should occur according to the following technology:

Cleaning the sewer with a plunger

• If there is a plug designed to filter drains, it should be removed.
• It is necessary to plug the overflow hole in any way.
• The plunger is lubricated with petroleum jelly or grease, which will improve its adhesion to the surface of the sink.
• The sink or bath is filled with water so that when using the plunger, its thicket is completely covered with liquid.
• The tool is placed over the drain hole and pressed tightly. The plunger makes 15 sharp movements up and down, after which it is torn off. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that water does not flow under the bowl, which will reduce the effectiveness of the procedure.
• If necessary, all manipulations are repeated again until the blockage is completely eliminated.

Chemicals

People who do not want to clear blockages mechanically use chemical products.

Liquid

To clean plastic drain pipes, chemical compounds produced in liquid form are used. They are characterized by a soft action that does not damage the surface of the plastic. The most effective liquid products include "Mr. Muscle" with a slight ammonia smell and "Tiret", which does not smell of anything.

Powders

Chemical formulations are also available in powder form to help clear blockages.

Effective powdered detergents include "Komet". This is a universal powder that is used not only for cleaning sewers, but also for washing household appliances. To get rid of blockage, "Komet" is poured into the drain and poured with hot water.

Acidic

Acid agents will help to remove serious blockages, due to which the liquid has completely stopped draining. They are able to eliminate food residues, as well as traces of grease and dirt on the pipes.

alkaline

Alkaline products are ideal for cleaning sinks installed in the kitchen. They effectively fight grease residues that can remain in the drain after washing dirty dishes or pans.

When choosing alkaline products, you need to pay attention to "Domestos" and "Whiteness"

Causes of sewer blockage

If you find that the water is not draining well and an unpleasant odor has appeared, then the resulting blockage is to blame. The smaller the problem, the easier it is to get rid of it. Therefore, first you need to determine the cause of the garbage plug.

Problem #1 - Accumulated Fat

The fat deposited on the walls of the pipes from the dishes causes the majority (about 70%) of traffic jams. Most often, such a blockage appears in the kitchen: the sink, the drain from the dishwasher are the most problematic areas.

Such accumulations are formed slowly: their inner layer is jelly-like, and the outer one, adjacent to the pipes, is more knocked down. They are formed, in addition to fat, food particles, threads, etc.

The most common cause of clogged drains is grease that settles on pipe walls after washing utensils. It is enough to shine a flashlight, and you can see the place of blockage

Problem #2 - Heavy Waste

Particles that are heavy in weight provoke the appearance of man-made blockages. Of the total number of causes, they make up no more than 10% and appear most often in apartment buildings.

Consider heavy: sand, debris from repairs, poorly flushed solutions, animal litter, hygiene products, rags, wet wipes, toilet paper and newspapers that enter the sewer through the toilet.

In addition, a mechanical plug in the pipes can be "organized" by organic waste - vegetable peelings, onion husks, food particles.Often the causes of blockages can be children's toys - Lego elements, beads and any small items that accidentally fell into the sewer.

A clogged siphon is often a key cause of blockages, both in the kitchen and in the toilet. It needs to be cleaned about once every 2-3 months.

Problem #3 - Hitting Hard Objects

Damage to the pipe can form a blockage due to the ingress of solid particles of different sizes into the system. For example, a piece of wood, plastic, which can get stuck somewhere in the middle of the pipe.

There, other debris and grease will layer on this item. It is they who will provoke the growth of a large cork, which is not so easy to break through. In a private house, the cause may be the deformation of a pipe adjacent to the main sewer, or the external pressure of a large object.

Problem #4 - unprofessional editing

Unprofessional installation sewer pipes in the apartment or a house can create big problems for the owners in the form of frequently recurring blockages.

The installation of sewerage must be approached with all responsibility. Incorrectly selected angle of inclination or too a large number of joints can cause frequent blockages.

For example, installing pipes at too sharp an angle, or, conversely, at an insufficient slope; a large number of creases, too small a cross-section of pipes, the presence of gaps between pipes, incorrectly selected parts or the absence of them.

Problem #5 - Service life and care

A long service life of pipes can cause blockages. But PVC pipes are practically not subject to such wear.

This is more true for cast iron pipes, since their inner surface has some roughness.It is subject to corrosion and sediment from passing debris and sewage remains on it. Over time, the sediment accumulates and compacts, so the permeability of the pipes will decrease.

The lack of necessary care and planned cleaning of plumbing is also a common cause of traffic jams. For cast-iron pipes, such cleanings must be carried out once every 2-3 months, and for plastic pipes - at least once a year. Having determined the cause of the blockage, it is necessary to find out the place of its deployment.