by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: January 01, 2010   Last Updated: January 02, 2010

There are drains in your house both in the kitchen and the bathrooms. All of them have the potential to become clogged. When you want to unclog your drain but avoid the harsh and harmful chemicals, what can you do?

First, remain calm and try to remove any standing water. It will be much easier to unclog your drain if you do not have to work through water. Remove the drain plug in your sink. Sometimes you can look into the drain and see what the clog is. When it comes to the tub, shower or bathroom sink many clogs will be the result of hair accumulating in the pipes. If you drain is not too deep you may be able to reach the area where the clog is. If you cannot reach it but you can see it you may need to use something to grab the hair. A screw driver or a crochet hook are both items that may be used, even a knife or a fork. If you can not get the clog to loosen up then you may have to  remove the trap. This will require a wrench. Twist off the seal and open the pipe. Use your screw driver to grab or poke out the clog.

In the kitchen sink hair should not be the issue, most likely it will be grease. With kitchen clogs removing the trap first is a good idea. It is possible that something has fallen from the sink into the pipe. It can be something as simple as a Popsicle stick or a small spoon. This will cause a very definite clog over a short period of time. With a grease clog, hot water can often help to melt the clog. You can try pouring white vinegar and baking soda into the drain first and letting it sit for a while.  You need to have very hot water, boil some up in your kettle and pour it in slowly.

When it comes to clearing the drain in your toilet, you are dealing with a messy problem. Your first effort should be to try plunging your toilet. Having a long handled plunger will help you to keep your hands away from the water and also gives you a little more leverage. It may take quite a few plunges to free up a big clog. If you have plunged several times and the water is not draining it is time to bring out your snake,

Snakes can reach a deep clog and is  your best bet for being able to unclog your toilet on your own without chemicals. If the snake does not help the only other thing that you can do is to remove the screws that hold your toilet in place and lift the toilet off the drain. Be very careful when you do this, porcelain can crack and that will mean buying a new toilet. This requires that you empty all the water from the toilet. A shop vacuum is one way to do this with a minimum of mess. There is also an attachment that you can use with your shop vacuum that can pull clogs out of your drain.  If at this point you can not see the clog or your snake can not reach it, it is time to call in the professionals.

There are many clogs in your home that will respond well to non chemical methods of dislodging them. It will take a little more effort and perseverance but intimately it leads to a more Eco friendly home and world. When there are small children in a home or if you have pets it is always a good idea to avoid as amny harsh chemicals as possible.

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