A clogged sink or shower drain is a problem that sooner or later appears in every household. Instead of calling a plumber right away, it’s worth trying to fix it yourself. Thanks to simple home remedies, you can remove the blockage quickly and effectively. Find out what causes a clogged drain and how to clean your sink effectively.

Clogged sink, sink or shower drain – reasons

The most common cause of a clogged drain is dirt accumulation. In the case of the kitchen sink, these are mostly food residues, grease and detergent deposits. However, hair, soap residue and limescale can be a problem in the shower. It is also worth paying attention to small things that can accidentally fall into the drain, e.g. small pieces of plastic, rubber bands or jewellery.

Lack of maintenance, missing drain strainer or using a lot of grease in the kitchen are other factors that contribute to clogging. It is worth remembering that regular drain maintenance helps prevent expensive repairs in the future and unpleasant surprises in the form of overflowing water.

Home remedies for a clogged drain

Before you use chemical pipe cleaners or decide to visit a plumber, try home remedies. They are not only effective, but also safe for the environment and installation.

Hot water with salt

  • Boil about a liter of water and dissolve a few spoons of table salt in it.
  • Pour the solution down the drain and wait a few minutes.

Hot water dissolves fats and deposits, and salt has a mild antibacterial effect, helping to clean pipes.

Baking soda and vinegar

  • Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour in half a cup of vinegar. The combination of these ingredients causes a chemical reaction that dissolves the contaminants.
  • After about 15 minutes, flush the drain with hot water.

Nicole, who appears on TikTok under the nickname @nicole_hohenstein, she used the same trick as we show, but changed the ratio – she mixed soda and vinegar in a ratio of 1:2. After the end of the reaction, the mixture was poured with hot water and for larger blockages, she repeated the whole process. The result was perfect, the water flowed out without any problems.

@nicole_hohenstein Sink clogged? 1:2 ratio of baking soda to vinegar, followed by boiling water! #toxicfreehome #toxicfreeliving #lowtox #lowtoxliving #cleaningtiktok #cleaninghacks #clean ♬ original sound – Nicole | Holistic Wellness

Using the toilet bell

It is a classic tool that is often enough to remove simple blockages.

  • Fill the sink or shower tray with a small amount of water, place the bell over the drain and press hard to create a vacuum.

Wire or coat hanger

  • Unroll a metal coat hanger or use wire to create a makeshift trash hauler.
  • Place in the drain and gently remove any remaining hair, soap scum or other debris. But be careful not to puncture the pipe!

Water pressure

  • Connect a garden hose to the faucet and direct a high-pressure stream of water toward the drain. But be careful not to damage the installation.

How to take care of the sink and shower so that the drain does not get clogged?

Prevention is better than cure – that’s an old universal truth. Regular drain maintenance is key to preventing clogs. Here are some practical tips to help you keep your installation in good condition.

  • Use drain strainers – this is an easy way to stop larger dirt such as hair, food scraps and small objects.
  • Flush the drain regularly with hot water – pour a liter of hot water down the drain once a week to dissolve grease and deposits.
  • Do not pour grease down the sink – cooking fats (and even vegetable oil) harden over time and settle on the pipe walls, leading to blockages.
  • Remove hair from the shower tray – collect hair from the strainer or drain area after each shower so that it does not enter the pipe.
  • Avoid throwing food scraps down the drain – before washing the dishes, scrape the larger residues into the trash and wipe the greasy pans with a paper towel.
  • It is also worth regularly using natural products such as baking soda or vinegar, which they not only clean the pipes, but also have antibacterial properties, preventing unpleasant odors.

What if home methods don’t work?

When should you call a plumber?

Home remedies for a clogged drain are effective in most cases, but sometimes the problem can be more serious. If the water does not drain even after using the above methods, it is possible that a larger blockage has formed in the pipe and special equipment is required for removal. In such situations, it is not worth delaying – the help of an installer will prevent further damage to the installation.

A clogged sink or shower drain is an annoying problem, but in many cases you can solve it yourself using simple home methods. Hot water with salt, baking soda with vinegar or a classic plunger are just some of the effective ways to clog pipes. Regular maintenance and care of your drains will help you avoid such situations in the future.

Forget smudges and residue. Try a simple trick and your dishwasher will work perfectly