While some clogs require a licensed plumber, there are some that can be fixed with your own two hands. One of the most common issues is when the water in your sink drains slowly. We would like to offer you a few quick tips on how you can speed up a slow drain.
Zip-It, Zip-It Real Good
Usually, a drain is slowed up by two culprits – hair and soap scum. It is best to not think about the amount of hair that has left your scalp and fallen into the sink, just focus on fixing the drain for now. An easy way to remove this debris is with a tool called Zip-It. This item cost around ten dollars and can be found at almost any hardware store as well Wal-Mart and Target.
This skinny tool has small ‘teeth’ running down each side which help catch the unwanted hair. Insert the tool into the drain as far as it will go, then pull it back out. After cleaning the tool, you will want to repeat the process a few more times to ensure you caught everything possible. If you are in a hurry and don’t have time to buy the Zip-It tool, needle-nosed pliers can work well too.
Pop the Top
The Zip-It tool and your needle-nose pliers can only remove so much. The next step is to remove your drain’s pop-up. Most of the soap scum collects around this and a quick cleaning can help immensely. Pop-ups are generally attached to the drain and are held in place with a nut underneath the sink. Quickly take off the nut, pull out the pop-up, and wash away the scum and other debris. You may need to scrape some of it off depending how thick it is. Re-attach the pop-up once clean.
Chemistry 101
The final step in speeding up your sluggish drain is to pour in some drain cleaner. There are homemade solutions you can easily mix up and save money on instead of buying the name-brand cleaners. An-other benefit is that they don’t feature harsh chemicals which can corrode your pipes.
One recipe uses baking soda and vinegar. Pour one cup of baking soda into the drain followed by ½ cup of vinegar. Quickly cover up the drain and let it set for about thirty minutes. Be sure no one uses the sink during this time. After thirty minutes, uncover the drain and allow hot water to run for two to three minutes. For extremely stubborn clogs, you may need to do it again. Repeating this final step once a month will help keep the debris from building back up so quickly.
Plunge It
A plunger can be used for more than just toilets. It can sometimes be very effective in pushing the blockage through the pipes. Just make sure to block the sink overflow hole with a rag or duct tape before plunging to make sure you have a good seal.
