Clearing Clogged Drains

My upstairs bathroom sink drain always needs attention: I think toothpaste is the culprit, but whatever, it always needs help.

You don’t need powerful industrial chemicals as the household cleaning industry would have you believe! Find out the surprisingly easy and non-toxic way I keep that drain open.

When our drains get clogged, we have been unwaveringly convinced that nothing short of the most powerful chemical arsenal will work. As a result, most of us resort to commercial drain cleaners that are some of the most dangerous chemicals found in the home. Lye or acid, these products can harm health, the wastewater stream, and PVC pipes.

A gentle yet effective approach to coaxing free a clog from a drain is to use simple household ingredients instead of burning a hole through the clog with industrial lye or acid. There are even bacteria-based enzyme cleaners available in health food stores that eat the clog free from the pipe without harming everything else in which it comes into contact. And it is always worth it to try unclogging a drain first with an old-fashioned plunger; they very often do the trick. If all else fails, you might try an electric plumber’s snake, but it is recommended that to prevent injury, only professional plumbers should use this equipment.

Next: Clog-busting formulas

1 of 2

Read more: Home, Non-Toxic Cleaning

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sue L.

4:04PM PST on Feb 5, 2012

Care2 comes through again! I read the article and skimmed through the comments and found a solution. I fashioned my own drain cleaner out of a wire coat hanger to remove the hair and gunk from my clogged bathroom sink. Then I poured 4 quarts of boiling water and voila! No more problem. I will begin a monthly maintenance routine with baking soda and hot water to prevent so much gunk from building up in the first place.

send a green star

Tim C.

11:50PM PST on Jan 22, 2012

Jerryl T.

11:27PM PST on Jan 22, 2012

The reaction between baking soda and vinegar could loosen any clogged drains. This is the natural drain cleaner.

Belle W.

6:40PM PST on Dec 29, 2011

Yes, baking soda works wonders here!

Laura S.

4:12PM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

sometimes just plain old boiling water works..

Michele W.

8:49AM PDT on Aug 7, 2011

Thank you

William C.

3:23PM PDT on Apr 27, 2011

I use WSD when I have a clogged drain, they charge $95 Flat fee for any drain www.waseweranddrain.com

Dr R.

6:34PM PST on Feb 16, 2011

I had a horrible clog in my bathroom sink and tried all kinds of natural stuff. This is what worked:

1 cup baking soda. A pot of boiling water (6 cups).
Followed by 1 gal. vinegar. Another pot of boiling water.
Then, a small hand plunger for plunging! Success!

Charlene S.

10:41AM PST on Jan 23, 2011

Great tips! In terms of bathroom drains (which tend to get clogged with hair despite by best efforts), I use a long hook which I got from one of those home gadget catalogs. I clear out all the gunky hair about once a month or so (it's gross but effective) and then rinse and plunge a couple of times and that does the trick. No more Liquid Plumber!