Tips for unblocking a drain

It’s one of those jobs no one wants to do but our handy hacks make it faster and easier

YOU know the warning signs: the water in the sink takes a little longer to drain or you start to notice water pooling around your feet in the shower. Then there’s the unpleasant odour that greets you every time you walk into your home.

All these things are telling you you’ll soon be faced with a clogged drain. So you remove the excess grime and gunk that’s built up around the opening of the drain – but nothing happens.

Here are a few quick and easy ways to unclog the drains in your home without having to call in a plumber. Take a wire coat hanger and turn it into a drain snake by straightening it out as best you can. Bend one end to create a small hook, push that past the drain cover and start fishing.

You should be able to get all sorts of hair and gunk out. Pour a cup of bicarbonate of soda down a blocked sink followed by two cups of boiling water then wait a few minutes (but you might have to skip this one and No 3 if you live in a drought-stricken area). Add another cup of bicarbonate of soda, immediately followed by a cup of white vinegar, then put in the plug. Don’t panic if you hear a sizzling noise coming from the drain – the explosive chemical reaction is loosening any stuff lurking in the drain. This solution can also be used in toilets but allow the mixture to sit in the toilet bowl overnight. The loo should be good to go by morning. This is a good one if your home has metal pipes: slowly pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain in two or three stages, allowing the water to work for several seconds between pours.

But be warned: if the pipes are made of PVC, extremely hot water can soften or melt the joints.

So if you’re not sure, don’t use boiling water – rather opt for hot water from the tap instead. If you can’t get your sink unclogged, there’s a good chance the problem lies in the U-bend or other kind of waste water trap (the pipe just under the sink).

Grab a bucket or large bowl and put it under the pipe, then carefully unscrew the grooved caps on either end of the bent length of pipe or the entire trap. Empty the contents into the bucket, pull on a pair of rubber gloves and fish around to check for other debris. Rinse the U-bend/trap with water and put it all back together. This usually does the trick.

If your toilet is clogged and you can’t find your plunger (or you don’t have one), put a plastic bag over a mop, secure with a rubber band and plunge the contraption into the toilet bowl repeatedly. It might not be as effective as a plunger but it should do a decent job of clearing up minor blockages. S