A clogged drain is a real hassle, whether it’s in the kitchen or the bathroom. If you want to keep using your plumbing as usual, that clog has got to go. However, you may not want to have harsh chemical drain cleaners in your home. Children and pets may get into them and present a serious hazard. But you may also want to minimize the amount of chemicals you put into the environment via the water supply cycle. If that’s the case, follow these tips to learn how to unblock drains the eco-friendly way!

TRY USING A PLUNGER FIRST

Using the proper kind of plunger for your drain – and yes, there are plungers that are appropriate to use on a sink. They are usually red rubber and have a shallow suction cup. Plunging the drain may be all you need to do. The suction could force the clog away, leaving you with a clear drain.

TURN TO BAKING SODA

After the plunger method, your drain may not be totally clear. If this is the case, pour a cup of baking soda down it and then 3 cups of boiling water. This can resolve clogs nicely, but if it doesn’t, there are still other tricks to try.

ADD VINEGAR

Vinegar and baking soda may bring elementary school science projects to mind, but in reality, they make a great combination for cleaning drains. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, and then half a cup of white vinegar. You can also heat the vinegar first or follow up the combination with boiling water if it’s a really stubborn clog. Some homeowners also swear by adding just a little lemon juice to the mix.

One note: Don’t turn to a chemical drain cleaner after you use this method – there could be adverse reactions within your pipes when you mix all these items together. Instead, if your drain still isn’t clear, check out some other drain cleaning resources we offer, call a plumber or use safe drain clean products from Roto-Rooter.