You can clear a slow or mildly clogged drain with a few simple things you probably already have. No plumber needed—unless it’s fully blocked or keeps coming back.
🧼 The classic (and actually effective) method
Baking soda + vinegar + hot water
Steps:
- Pour about ½ cup baking soda into the drain
- Add 1 cup vinegar
- Let it fizz for 10–15 minutes
- Flush with boiling water
This helps break down grease, soap residue, and minor buildup.
🔥 For greasy kitchen clogs
- Pour a few drops of dish soap into the drain
- Follow with very hot (almost boiling) water
This melts and washes away grease stuck in the pipes.
🧂 Stronger version (for tougher buildup)
- Mix ½ cup baking soda + ½ cup salt
- Pour into drain
- Leave it overnight
- Flush with hot water in the morning
Salt adds abrasion to help scrub the pipe walls.
🪠 Don’t underestimate this
A simple plunger can work wonders:
- Seal the drain properly
- Pump 10–15 times
- Often clears blockages quickly
⚠️ When this won’t work
- Completely blocked drain (no water going down at all)
- Repeated clogs (could be deeper pipe issue)
- Bad smell that won’t go away (possible sewer problem)
In those cases, a plumber or a drain snake is the better move.
👍 Prevention tip
Once a week, pour hot water + a little dish soap down the drain to keep grease from building up.
If you tell me whether it’s your kitchen sink, bathroom, or shower drain, I can give a more targeted fix—some clogs behave differently.
