Tips on Unclogging Tub Drains
Without a doubt, one of the most common household problems encountered by everyone is a clogged drain. Things inevitably go down there that shouldn’t, and drains get clogged as a result. Maybe people feel intimidated by a world of pipes they can’t really see and they know nothing about, and for that reason people commonly leave the solutions up to professionals. When a tub drains slowly, many people continue using it until the clog is substantially worse. This only makes it harder to fix. The truth is, there are several things you can do to fix a clogged tub, and none of them require you to be particularly handy.
Pouring hot water is a simple first response. If the clog isn’t particularly bad, hot water can fix it. If this works continue to regularly pour hot water down the drain. Doing this once a week will ensure it stays clear. It’s also possible that it’s hair clogging the tub. If these are visible, pull them out yourself. Sometimes you’ll grab one and a clump will emerge. This is ideal! If you can see something in the drain, grab it, with tweezers if necessary. But if this isn’t the case then follow these instructions.
If hot water doesn’t sufficiently unclog your drain, try putting salt in the water. This gives the water a little more attacking power to go after whatever’s clogging your tub. It’s also an easy way of modifying an already easy solution.
If this doesn’t work, try pouring a half cup of baking soda and a half cup of vinegar down the drain. Allow it to rest overnight, and in the morning flush it down with hot water. This is a vintage, old school home remedy! For really stubborn clogs, mix salt and baking soda together and allow it to dwell overnight. Like in the solutions above, flush down the next morning with hot water.
To create real pressure, feel free to use a toilet plunger on other drains. Plunging hard fifteen to twenty times in a row can create a powerful suction. Really put elbow grease in it! It’ll look aggressive when you’re doing it properly. Last resort is the use of a snake plunger, which works on the same principle as a plunger, but has a flexible head and can get deeper into your clogged drain. Sometimes just putting the snake down the drain will push what’s clogging your drain, or else it might pull it up. In any case, this is an extremely useful tool.
As a means of pre-emptive strike, obviously it’s a good idea to be careful around what gets sent down your drain. There are metal guards you can buy for really cheap that don’t let big particles through. But if you do this and it fails you, at least you have a long list of helpful tips!