Probably all of us like it very much when our house or flat is kept tidy and clean. However, as life happens, unforeseen things can happen to us. A clogged drain is one such situation that can make our lives miserable. A clogged toilet, an obstructed drain in the basin or shower tray can be a nuisance for everyone in the house. 

If this happens to you and you don't have a reliable plumber on hand, there are always alternative home remedies for unblocking pipes.

In the remainder of this article, you will be able to find out which measures, preparations or tools you can use to prevent clogged drains. 

Sewer installation - prevention is better than cure.

A clogged sewerage system is nothing pleasant... For a sewerage system to work properly, it is essential that it is well executed. About the most common mistakes made we wrote in another article - it is worth recalling its valuable content to avoid unnecessary complications.

Tree roots are proving to be important factors affecting the condition of the installation. Before installing the system, it is worth paying attention to how the trees on your property are growing. The smallest cracks or leaks can be caused precisely by tree roots entwining and entering the pipes. They thus block the flow of water, causing damage to the pipes. It is worth remembering to monitor the condition of the installation, especially if it is years old.

Clogged drains - the most common problems.

Obstructed pipes and clogged drains usually manifest themselves as minor problems at first, but can very quickly develop into a major breakdown.

Clogged drainpipes can cause slow drainage, leaks, corrosion and even sewer backflows causing costly repairs. The most common causes of an obstructed, clogged drain turn out to be whatever lands in our plumbing. And they are:

a). Soap

Probably no one would guess that a small bar of soap could cause a blockage in a sink or bath drain... And yet, traditional soap bars are made of fat. Combining them with the minerals in the water leaves a hard scum that settles inside the pipes. It is therefore worth ensuring that the drainpipes are systematically cleaned using preparations, preferably biological, which, in addition to unblocking the drain, will also take care of our environment. You can find out more about biological products and their purpose in our short product video, which I invite you to watch 😉 .

b). Hair

They are another culprit for blockages in the sewer system, as they combine with sticky substances to form clumps. In order to prevent hair from falling into gullies or drains, it is worth getting special covers to catch them. And, of course, we must not forget to clean them regularly and remove unwanted debris.

c). Too much toilet paper

Excess toilet paper, wet wipes, cotton pads can lead to clogged drains.

A build-up of water can cause an obstructed drain, and a clogged toilet that we cannot use will be a major inconvenience to us... In a situation where water is allowed to continue to flow through the toilet after flushing, a traditional toilet pusher can most likely handle the problem to move and dissolve some of the paper. Worse still, if the toilet fills to the brim with water and stops, a plumber should be called immediately.

d). Food waste

Food leftovers should never really go down the drain. However, if unwanted particles do find their way down the drain, it is a good idea to get a food grinder to grind up food scraps. However, when it comes to tea leaves or coffee grounds - it is definitely better to compost them to prevent unwanted blockages.

How to unclog a badly clogged sink, sink drain or unclog a toilet.

Pushing through sewer pipes is not an easy or pleasant task. It is worth considering whether the situation calls for the use of chemicals available on the market. Many times their frequent use leads to corrosion and damage to sewer pipes. A much better solution is biological preparations protecting the pipes and the environment at the same time.

We often forget or are not aware that there are still home remedies for unclogging pipes. Here are some interesting and proven examples:

a). Bleach

It is one of the first things to try for unblocking a toilet without using Kretz or other chemicals. Pour it into the toilet , leave it in for a minimum of three hours, then flush it copiously with water - this should help unblock the pipes.

b). Toilet pusher

It is nothing more than a rubber cup with a wooden handle. It is the most classic method to unclog a drain. Simple to use, cheap, inexhaustible and, above all, very environmentally friendly. The only downside is that it is only suitable for unclogging the drains themselves. The cup is pressed firmly against the drain and then pulled away. At the same time, allow water to enter the drain every so often. Repeat the operation several times: up - down!

c). Hot water dishwashing liquid

If you have a clogged drain, a clogged toilet e.g. with a lot of toilet paper, or a paper towel that is much thicker than toilet paper lands in the bowl - it is advisable to use a good, thick washing up liquid. Pour a generous amount of liquid directly into the bowl and pour plenty of hot water over it. This mixture should effectively dissolve the paper deposits clogging the drain.

d). Flushing the sink with baking soda and vinegar

These two preparations are usually found in everyone's home, so to decongest the under-sink trap You don't even have to leave the house. All you will need for the concoction is half a cup of the previously mentioned soda and half a cup of vinegar. Pour the baking soda down the drain, then pour in the vinegar (dose in small portions). This will create a foam that penetrates the trap, and the soda and vinegar solution dissolves hair and other debris. Once all the vinegar has been poured in, close the drain with a stopper for about 20 minutes. After the specified time, pour very hot, but not boiling, water down the drain. IMPORTANT: Do not pour boiling water into plastic sewer pipes!

e). Unblocking pipes with Coca-Cola

Draining drains, traps with coca -cola.

This is probably one of the quickest and cheapest ways to unclog a drain in a sink or shower tray. The beverage contains orthophosphoric acid in its composition, which has rust-removing and pushing properties. It is worth using when there is an unpleasant smell coming from the bathroom and the water in the sink or bathtub is running down for hours.

f). Caustic soda drainage

That is, with sodium hydroxide. If most methods have already failed, it is worth trying to unblock the clogged drain Toilet with caustic soda. To do this, fill a bucket with water and add 2 tablespoons of the above-mentioned product to it. Then pour the whole thing into the toilet and rinse it thoroughly with water. However, it is worth remembering that baking soda is a very drastic measure which should not be used too often. It can damage not only the toilet, but also the sewage pipes throughout the house. When using it, it is necessary to protect the hands with gloves and the eyes with specialised glasses. A very effective remedy, but it is worth remembering to use it judiciously.

In summary, there are many ways to clear blockages from both kitchen plumbing and bathroom plumbing. It is important to keep food waste out of the pipes. A correct domestic waste management policy should become a habit for ALL household members.

In order to prevent sewer blockages in the first place, prevention is of great importance, which can help to avoid a great deal of damage. Systematic maintenance of the patency of your pipes through the use of "home remedies", for example, will eliminate clogged drains and pipes once and for all!

Therefore, it is worth taking care of comprehensive and systematic protection of your sewerage system today, before it is too late...because as the old adage goes: "prevention is better than cure".