by Patti Winters

Created on: March 08, 2007   Last Updated: September 22, 2010

A clogged drain can be one of the biggest hassles in a home. It is a messy job and no one wants to deal with the clean up. You can buy the chemicals but they really don't work well, no matter what the bottle states. There are a couple of different methods you can use to clean a drain.

First you can use a fresh can of coke and pour it down the drain. You would be amazed at what this drink can eat through. After you pour it in, wait a few minutes and then run hot water down the drain.

If that doesn't work or you don't have coke in the house you can also try putting baking soda down the drain and then adding vinegar. This will bubble and fizz and could make a mess so watch how much you pour in the drain. Do the same thing as with the coke, wait a few minutes and then turn the hot water on.

The final thing you can do is buy a plumber's snake from the hardware store. They are only a few dollars and it is easy to use. Remove the drain plug and push the snake through the line, You normally won't have to go far to have it work. It will help to work the stuff loose that is stuck in the drain and then you can turn the hot water on to make sure it works the rest of the way through the pipe. Something to keep in mind for this method is that it can be very messy. The snake will pull hair and other things back up with it that you will have to clean up. You might also have to pull the snake out a couple of times and reinsert it to make sure that you have made it through the clog.

There will be some drains that a snake will not work in because of the type of drain it is, i.e. a sink drain that has the drain plug that doesn’t want to come out. Instead of working to get the drain plug out, it will be easier to use one of the other methods that have been mentioned. In the long run it will be easier that trying to get the drain plug out and then trying to put it back in. While the snake is one of the best methods to clean a drain, if you aren’t able to use the snake then I would recommend the baking soda and vinegar method. It should help with the sink drains without having to smell or use the harsh chemicals.

I hope these methods help you like they have helped me.

Learn more about this author, Patti Winters.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.