When you’re busy washing your pots, the last thing to cross your mind is the idea that you might be blocking it with grease and food fragments. Yet many of the things we wash off our plates can create blocked Drains if you don’t treat them regularly.

Luckily, there are a number of tricks you can try that can prevent drain blockages, without the need for a professional plumber.

Top Drain Unblocking Tips

1. Be Careful What You Put Down Your Drains

• Cooking greases, coffee granules, hair and soap scum are 4 of the biggest sources of drain blockages, so the first thing you should always consider before you wash and clean is what is going down your drain.
• Cooking grease is easy to get rid of. Simply pour it into an old can, jar or container, seal and you can throw away.
• With coffee grounds you’ve got 1 of 2 options
• If you’ve got a compost heap, add the mulch to the pile. Otherwise drain off any excess water and throw into your bin. – To prevent any unwanted substances from falling down your drain, install a screen/ grate to cover your drains opening. This will minimise hair and soap scum, and filter out any other potential problems.

2. Regular Cleaning

• And we don’t mean washing out your sink. To prevent unsavoury odours and keep water running freely, we suggest:
• Take a handful of baking soda, pour it down your drain and complete by adding hot water – combined the water and baking soda will act as a cleaning agent to absorb foul odours and keep your drain clean.
• Pour a cup of vinegar down the drain and leave for 30 minutes. After half an hour pour hot water to clear it away – the acetic acid in vinegars acts as a solvent to remove organic build-up.
• Blend 1/2 cup each of salt and baking soda, pour down your drain and follow with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Leave to foam for 1 minute, then add 2 quarts of boiling water and leave to soak overnight – this blend is great for regular blockages and can be used on your sinks, shower and baths. NOTE: Kitchen sinks get blocked for different reasons compared to your bathroom. For this reason you’ll need to employ different techniques. For your bathroom pour at least 1tbsp of salt into your drain followed by ¼ cup of plain white vinegar. Leave for an hour and clear away with hot water, then repeat.

NOTE: Kitchen sinks get blocked for different reasons compared to your bathroom. For this reason you’ll need to employ different techniques. For your bathroom pour at least 1tbsp of salt into your drain followed by ¼ cup of Plain White Vinegar. Leave for an hour and clear away with Hot Water, then repeat.

3. Maintenance

• Similar to regularly cleaning your drains with the above tips; pouring a little bleach down it at least once a week can help to maintain your sink and break down clogs. Either leave it to soak for at least an hour or overnight, before you rinse it away with water.

4. Use your Hot Water Wisely

• Whilst we’ve mentioned hot water in a few of the techniques above, any other time you need to be careful. On its own, hot water will continue to melt and soften grease encouraging it to coat the surface of your drains. For this reason, only use hot water to wash away any of the above remedies.
• Cold water on the other hand can help to keep grease/oils in a solid state making it easier to wash them away.

5. Shop Bought Detergents

• If none of the natural solutions above work to unclog your drains, then visiting your local supermarket can offer you a range of detergents. Just be sure to do your research first and make sure the ingredients you’re pouring down your sink aren’t too caustic.
• Any of the above tips can help you to rid your drains of blockages without the need to hire a plumber; however if you are still struggling contact us at 3 Flow Drainage today to arrange an appointment.

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