Is your relaxing bath ruined by slow drains or complete blockages? Soap residue, hair and other dirt can quickly get stuck in the drain and slow down the flow of water significantly. If your bathtub is clogged, you can solve the problem without harsh chemicals or an expensive visit to a plumber.
Bathtub clogged – what to do
A slow-running drain is more than just a nuisance. The water and dirt take forever to drain away, and when they do, a greasy residue is left behind. Water standing in the sink or shower can be a sign of a larger plumbing problem. Try some of our suggested clogged drain remedies.
Use boiling water with caution
If you pour boiling water down your bathtub drain, the soap scum that builds up in the drains can quickly dissolve and clear the clog. However, boiling water can cause problems in some drains. Never pour boiling water down a drain that uses PVC pipe. PVC can absorb hot water from the tap, but not the extreme heat of boiling water. Even if you don't notice anything right away, leaks and other problems can occur over time.
Pull out visible dirt
Often you can see the hair buildup when the drainyour bathtubhappens slowly or not at all. All you need to do is remove the bathtub plug to expose the drain. Grab the debris and pull it out of the drain to open it. A hook on the end of a stiff wire can help you get more of the clog out.
Bathtub Clogged: Try a Plumber's Snake
A useful tool for bathtub draining is a plumber's snake. It has a long cable that runs through the drain and helps clear the clog. Typically, you will need to remove the overflow plate directly under the faucet so that you can route the snake's cable through this opening.
Continue feeding the cable through the opening until you encounter the blockage. You can loosen the blockage by twisting and shaking the cable. You can then crank the cable out of the drain again, taking some of the dirt with you. Repeat the process until most of the clog is removed from the drain and the water flows freely.
Dishwashing detergent breaks down grease
If boiling water isn't enough, try adding a cup of liquid dishwashing detergent to a liter of hot water after 30 minutes. Or boil the mixture of water and dish soap and then pour it down the drain. After waiting a while for it to take effect, rinse the pipe with hot water! This process is particularly effective for clogs that are primarily made up of grease, as the cleaners are designed to break this down!
Mixtures containing baking or washing soda
Both sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate can eliminate any type of dirt! Baking soda and vinegar together make a perfect combination that will ensure water flows smoothly through the pipes again! Simply pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar, leave it overnight, and flush with hot water in the morning!
Baking soda and salt can also help. First pour a cup of baking soda and then a cup of saltinto the drain, leave it overnight and flush the drain with boiling water in the morning!
You can also make a solution of baking soda, salt and hot water in a ratio of 1:1:4 and flush the drain with hot water when you get up!
Washing soda and hot water are also an effective way to clear clogs! Mix the two in equal parts, pour the liquid down the drain and leave it overnight before rinsing it out the next morning!
Coca-Cola or Pepsi
Do you have a can or bottle of Coke in the house? You definitely have! Forget about drinking it if your bathtub is clogged - let it flow down the drain instead! But don't take the cola out of the fridge - it should be at room temperature! Let it bubble for an hour or two and then rinse with hot water! The phosphoric acid found in these drinks can deal a big blow to the sludge in your drains, so use them to prevent clogs too!
Lemon juice is not only suitable for lemonade
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Well, sort of. Mix ½ cup of lemon juice with a cup of salt and a cup of vinegar to combat constipation! Rinse with hot water after 30 minutes! And if you have a few lemons left – make this lemonade to freshen up in your clog-free bathroom before showering!
Borax and water also work
Those who know chemistry know it as sodium tetraborate, an organic compound that is generally very versatile! The simplest version of its use for treating clogged drains is to pour ½ cup of borax with two cups of boiling water and let it stand for about an hour beforethe drainrinse with water!
But mixing ½ cup of borax with ½ cup of salt and adding a cup of vinegar can work wonders too! Let the mixture sit for about an hour before flushing the pipe with water! Be warned that there is controversy over the safety of using borax, but as long as your skin doesn't come into direct contact with it, you don't inhale it or swallow it, you won't get any irritation!
Prevention is better than cure
Now that you've got your drain running again with one of these useful remedies, it's time to think about preventing clogs! First: Use mud traps and plugs and clean them regularly! Second, pour in the above combinations oftenyour drain– another advantage is that you can also use it for maintenance as often as you want to avoid unwanted blockages in the first place while staying safe and healthy!
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