How to Clean Drains

Co-authored by James Schuelke and Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: February 2, 2021 References Approved

A stubborn odor or clog can quickly turn any drain into a nuisance. Clean drains regularly to get rid of odors and buildup of organic residue that can lead to clogs. If you find water no longer drains properly, you can use a quick do-it-yourself fix to have your sink working properly in no time. You can also take steps to prevent odors and clogs from forming in the first place.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Getting Rid of Odors and Buildup

1
Treat your drain with white vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. This can help eliminate odors caused by the buildup of bacteria, grease, and organic residue in your drain. It can also help clean out residue to prevent a future clog. Pour ½ of a cup (118 ml) of baking soda down your drain, followed by ½ a cup (118 ml) of white vinegar. Cover or plug the drain immediately and let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes. Next, boil some water in a kettle or saucepan and pour the boiling water down the drain.^{[1]
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- A solution of baking soda and vinegar can also be used to clean stains and mineral deposits off of the area around the outside of your drain.^{[2]
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2
Treat dirty drains with a biological cleaner. Regular preventative treatments can keep your drains smelling nice, get rid of potentially harmful bacteria and mold, and prevent future clogs. Biological or enzymatic drain cleaners, like Zep or Citra-Drain, are relatively safe and environmentally friendly. They are also safer for your septic system than most chemical cleaners. Follow the packaging directions for treating a drain to eliminate odors and buildup.^{[3]
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3
Scour out a stinky disposal with ice, salt, and lemon peels. If a garbage disposal runs well but smells bad, this probably means that organic residue and bacteria have begun to build up on the grinders. Fill the disposal with a few cups of ice cubes, a handful of course salt, and a few lemon peels. Let it grind this mixture for a bit to scour out buildup with an "abrasive" that will not hurt its steel grinders.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Removing Clogs

1
Use a plunger to clear a clog. Plungers are great for unclogging toilets, but they also work well on clogged sinks and tubs. Fill the sink or tub with enough water to cover the drain and bottom. Press the plunger firmly down over the drain to create a tight seal and give it several quick pumps.^{[5]
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- Bellows-style plungers may work best.
- If you have a double-bowl sink, you may need to close one of the drains with a plug or a washcloth before plunging in order to create a complete seal.
- Keep a separate plunger for the toilet.
2
Use a barbed plastic drain cleaning tool. Barbed drain cleaners, like the Zip-It Bath and Sink Hair Snare, are a great solution for clogs near the drain opening. Just slide the tool into the drain and pull it out. The back-angled barbs will pull out hair and other materials that have built up in your drain.
3
Use a gas- or water-powered cleaner to blow out clogs. Aerosol drain cleaners can blast clogs out of a drain with compressed air or gas. Water bladders use pressurized water to accomplish the same result.^{[6]
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- If you choose a gas-powered drain cleaner, you will need to make sure the device fits over your drain properly. It may be necessary to use an adapter. If you don’t create a good seal, the blast could be directed back at you instead of into the drain.
- Water-based drain cleaning devices typically attach to a garden hose, but you may be able to get an adapter that will allow you to attach it to an indoor faucet.
4
Use a heating pad to melt grease clogs. Wrap a heating pad around the trap pipe under the sink. Turn the heating pad on to warm up the pipe, then run hot water through the drain until the grease clears. Add a little dish detergent to help dissolve the grease.^{[7]
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5
Treat buildup biologically. Use an enzymatic or bacterial drain cleaner overnight periodically for slow or partially clogged drains. Follow the directions on the package.^{[8]
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- Biological cleaners are slower to work and less effective than chemical cleaners, but they are safer for you, your plumbing, and the environment.
- Biological cleaners may require repeated treatments to be effective.
6
Call a plumber. If all else fails, or if you don’t feel confident that you can safely handle the problem yourself, call in a professional to clear your clogged drain.^{[9]
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Go to source} If you live in a rental property, contact your landlord or property manager so that they can call someone for you.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Clearing Deep Clogs with an Auger

1
Buy an inexpensive cable auger, or plumber's snake. Augers are great for clearing deep clogs that can’t be reached by other means. If you don’t want to buy one, you may be able to rent one from a hardware store. While the cables coiled on a spool come in many lengths, a 25-foot (7.5 m) cable should be plenty for most household needs.^{[10]
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- You should also get rubber gloves with a good gripping surface and wear protective goggles, especially if you have recently used harsh drain cleaning products.^{[11]
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2
Remove the trap under the sink, if necessary. Some sinks have a built-in strainer, so you may have to bypass this in order to reach the clog. The “trap” is a j-shaped pipe under your sink. Some sink traps can be removed by hand, but if this is not possible you may be able to remove it with a wrench or channel lock pliers. Have a bucket close by to catch any water that drains from the pipe after you remove it.^{[12]
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3
Slowly push the auger cable or snake into the pipe opening. Once it’s in a few inches, crank the handle on the auger while pushing the coil firmly into the pipe. The auger will slowly drive deeper into the pipe until it meets the obstruction.^{[13]
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- If your pipe has any sharp bends, you may need to wiggle the auger wire or turn the crank a little more firmly to get it through.
4
Keep cranking the auger until you meet resistance. If the auger wire encounters a clog that is too big or strong to break up, it will resist turning. Crank the handle a few more times to lodge the wire firmly in the clog, then wiggle it gently to help loosen up the blockage.^{[14]
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5
Turn the crank the other way to withdraw the auger from the pipe. If you successfully lodged the auger in the blockage, the clog should come out with the wire. Clean the debris off the end of the auger and dispose of them.^{[15]
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6
Test your drain and repeat the process, if necessary. Run a little water in your sink or tub and check to see if it drains properly. If not, try running the auger through your pipes a second time, and repeat as necessary until your drain is clear.^{[16]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preventing New Clogs, Smells, and Buildup

1
Use drain screens to prevent clogs. Drain screens let water and small particles flow through your drain while keeping out hair, soap scum, and big particles of food. Use drain screens in your tub during a shower and in your kitchen sink while washing dishes.^{[17]
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2
Keep grease and fat out of your drains. Grease can gradually build up in your plumbing to create clogs and foul odors, and can even cause more far-reaching issues outside your home, like sewer clogs.^{[18]
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Research source} Never pour cooking grease down your drain. Wipe down greasy dishes with a paper towel before washing them, and use plenty of hot water and dish detergent to break up any residual grease.^{[19]
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3
Perform maintenance cleaning on drains and stoppers. Pour a few gallons of boiling water down sink drains once a week as part of your regular cleaning routine. Regularly clean built-in sink stoppers, which can accumulate grime and clogging materials like hair.^{[20]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I clear buildup around my drains?

James Schuelke
Professional Plumber
James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest.

James Schuelke

Professional Plumber

Expert Answer

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Put a wet/dry vacuum hose against the drain and turn it on. All the gunk and buildup will suck up into the vacuum.

Warnings

Do not use chemical drain cleaner on a stopped drain, especially in standing water, as you can be left with a pool of dangerous rather than merely gross stoppage that makes the next steps with the more effective mechanical tools dangerous.

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Too much pressure from a plunger or a pressure-based drain cleaner can damage your drain or pipes. If you've tried repeatedly to clear an obstruction with no results, call a plumber who can remove the clog without damaging the pipes.

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Chemical drain opener is generally not recommended for septic tanks, because it will kill their beneficial bacteria.

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