Keeping Your Drain Clean
Tips on How to Keep Your Drain Clean
When a drain is blocked or clogged, it isn’t always the easiest thing to clean. This is because drains can effectively lose width as debris clings to the sides over time. To avoid this, try not to empty grease or oil down your drain. If you find yourself with drain problems, however, here are some ways you could go about solving them.
The easiest home remedy is to put about a tablespoon of baking soda into the drain, then slowly add either vinegar or lemon juice. Let this stand for about half an hour, then wash it through with hot water.
A stronger remedy involves picking up a strong drain cleaner at your local supermarket. Read and follow the instructions on the labels carefully. Also make sure that the chemical you choose is friendly to plastic pipes if that is what you have in your home.
If the do-it-yourself methods fail you, it could be that you have a large amount of debris built up in your drain. In this case, you may need a plumber to visit your home.
While you wait, you can pour a strong salt solution down the drain to help suppress any odors coming from the source of the clog. Once the plumber arrives, he’ll most likely use a ‘snake’ to clear the drain out. After your drain is once again clear, remember to clean it regularly: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!