A blocked drain is something every homeowner will have to deal with at some point or another. Even when you’re following the golden rules about what you shouldn’t pour down your drain, the occasional blockage may still occur.
Having a blocked drain often results in you having to call an emergency plumber Melbourne residents rely on to keep the plumbing crisis under control. To avoid this, many homeowners often opt for a host of drain cleaners to eliminate blockages. How safe are the drain cleaners you’re using?
Natural Ways to Keep Your Drain Clean
For many people, drain care involves pouring the strongest chemical you can find down the drain when the water seems to be backing up. While many harsh chemicals are excellent at dissolving the gunk, they can damage the pipes and plumbing fixtures.
Experts recommend opting for more natural ways of keeping your drain clog free. Let’s look at some of the more popular natural solutions that can work wonders for your drain.
1. Hot Water and Dish Soap
When your drain is running over, it may seem unlikely that pouring hot water into the mix will do anything to help the situation. However, the golden rule here is that prevention is better than cure.
Instead of waiting for a crisis, be proactive. Pour a mixture of hot water and dish soap down all your drains at least once every two days. This will prevent oil and grease build-up. Simply mix a few tablespoons of dish liquid and water and pour it in.
2. Vinegar and Baking Soda
If you notice a foul smell coming from your drain, it’s usually a sign that there’s a blockage close to the drain surface. In this case, we recommend using a vinegar and baking soda mix.
This solution is a well-known natural anti-bacterial mix to kill bacteria and reduces minor blockages. Here’s how you do it:
- Clean the area around the sink
- Pour a hot water and dish soap mixture down the drain to loosen any grease
- Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain
- Follow this with a cup of vinegar
- Place the plug in the drain for about an hour
- Unplug the drain and pour boiling water down the drain
- You might have to repeat this process several times for more stubborn blockages
3. Borax, Vinegar and Salt
Borax is a common product in many homes. Not only is it excellent for killing ants, but it’s also perfect for preventing blocked drains. Additionally, salt is an excellent anti-bacterial agent to use around your home.
As with the other solutions, the borax mix can be done in a few easy steps. We recommend always starting with a hot water and soap solution to loosen any oily build-up. Then do the following:
- Mix ¼ cup Borax with ¼ cup of salt
- Pour this mixture down the drain
- Add ½ cup of vinegar
- Plug the drain and let it sit for about an hour to give the mixture time to break down any residue in the drain
- When you unplug your drain, pour in boiling water to push the mixture down the drain
- Repeat if necessary, or weekly if blocked drains are common in your household
Additional Tips to Prevent Drain Blockages
In addition to using one or a combination of our natural solutions, there are several other tips to consider:
- Never pour grease, oil or leftover food down the drain as the oil and grease will harden and cause a solid blockage
- Place hair traps in your baths and showers to catch falling hair
- The same traps can be placed in your kitchen drains to catch small food particles
- Invest in a plunger to clear small blockages and plunge your drain after using your natural solution treatment, to keep the gunk moving
- If you’ve had a big cooking session with greasy pots, it’s a good idea to do a pre-treat with vinegar and baking soda and then the stronger Borax solution afterwards
- If you’re using a garbage disposal, add ice cubes to sharpen the blades
- Regularly run hot water down the outside drain to clear any potential build-up there
- Pour citrus juice down the drain to eliminate odours—however, don’t use essential oil as this will contribute to the oil build-up
- Fold a wire hanger to create a hook in the front which you can use to scoop out any hair or debris caught in the drain
- If you regularly struggle with stubborn blockages or water rising, pour our Borax solution into the drain and leave overnight
Speak to your local plumber for additional information about avoiding the blocked drains Melbourne residents often struggle with. Be sure to check with them for the types of solutions best suited to your plumbing infrastructure.
Final Thought
Don’t let a blocked drain catch you off guard. A simple mixture of one of our recommended solutions will help you keep your drains clean without damaging the plumbing. Avoiding the stress of a blocked drain is easier than you think!
Angela Spearman is a journalist at EzineMark who enjoys writing about the latest trending technology and business news.
