How To Clean a Drain Pipe

You can't reach inside the drain pipe to clean it on your own.There are a number of ways that you can clear your drain.Store-bought drain cleaner can be used to clean your drain pipes.Clean drain pipes can be maintained by following the right techniques.

Step 1: The water should be brought to a boil.

Put two liters of water into a pot and place it over the stove.The water will start to bubble when the stove is turned high.You can use a kettle to heat up the water.

Step 2: Add detergent to the water.

The detergent should be put into the water as it begins to boil.Remove the pot of water from the stove and take it to the drain.

Step 3: The water should be poured down the drain.

The water should go down the drain if you tip the pot or kettle.If you have plastic pipes, you should allow the water to cool for four to five minutes before pouring it down the drain.

Step 4: Take the hot water from the faucet and flush the drain.

Turn on your faucet on the hottest part of the day.If the drain is slow, you may have to remove larger grease obstructions to clear it.

Step 5: Purchase a drain cleaner from a store.

Decide which type of drain cleaner you want to use.There are options for traditional cleaners and foaming cleansers.Chemicals that are harmful to the environment can be found in traditional and foaming cleansers.

Step 6: The packaging has instructions on it.

It's important to read the instructions so that you know how long you should allow the drain cleaner to sit before you flush it.It's best to use warm water instead of hot water.Toxic fumes can be created by combining two different types of drain cleaners.

Step 7: The drain cleaner should be poured down the drain.

According to the directions, pour the appropriate amount of drain cleaner down the sink.The solution settles near the top of the drain pipe.

Step 8: The drain should be flushed with hot or boiling water.

You will need to flush the rest of the cleaner down the drain with warm or hot water after you let it sit.The packaging has directions for optimal results.

Step 9: Put the sink up halfway with water.

To push out the obstruction, you'll need to fill the sink up.Put enough water in the sink to fully submerge the plunger.

Step 10: A seal can be created by putting the plunger in the water.

If you want to get rid of the air in your sink, you need to dip the sink in the water and press down on the bottom.If you have a double sink, put a rag in the other sink's drain.

Step 11: Go up and down over the drain.

To push up and down on the plunger, use the straight handle.The seal makes sure that you force water down the drainpipe.There are obstructions or food particles in your sink.Towels can be used to clean up spills.

Step 12: Put hot water in the drain.

Run hot water from the faucet to finish cleaning your drainpipe.The pipe can be flushed with boiling water.

Step 13: The stopper needs to be removed.

You can remove the stopper from your drain.You'll have to remove the overflow plate under the faucet to get the drain out of the tub.You can pull up hair that's stuck down the drain pipe if you remove the stopper.If there is any gunk or hair that you have pulled up, wipe down the area.

Step 14: The snake should be inserted into the pipe.

You can either get a more heavy duty drain snake from a hardware store or use a disposable snake that comes with drain pipe cleaners.If you are using a piece of equipment from the hardware store, it will most likely have a crank that you must rotation to feed the snake down the drain.Gas and electric powered drain snakes can be rented from the hardware store.

Step 15: The snake should be moved until it grabs hold of the hair.

As the snake goes down the drain, make sure to turn it so that it doesn't get stuck.If you keep rotating it, the snake won't go any further.The snake should collect the hair that's in the drain.It means that you've reached the problem.

Step 16: The drain snake needs to be slowly pulled out of the drain.

Slowly remove the snake from the drain.If you're using a residential grade drain snake, you have to use a different way to pull it.Any hair that was stuck in the pipe should be pulled out by the snake when it comes out of the drain.

Step 17: If the faucet still isn't working, run the water from it.

To see if you've cleared the hair that was blocking the drain, run hot water from your faucet.Continue until you clear the hair out of the drain.

Step 18: Baking soda can be poured down the drain.

Put a half cup of baking soda in a measuring cup and pour it down the drain.

Step 19: The water should be boiled in a pot.

Pour 1 cup into the pot from your stove top.The water in the pot should boil.

Step 20: The pot should have 1 cup of vinegar in it.

White vinegar can be purchased at the grocery store.The measuring cup has a cup of vinegar in it.Put the hot water with the vinegar on the stove.

Step 21: The water and mixture should be flushed down the drain.

Carefully pour the pot of water down your drain after you transport it to the drain.If you have plastic pipes, cool the water down for a few minutes before pouring it down the drain.

Step 22: Allow the solution to sit for 10 minutes.

The baking soda should start to foam up.The foam will help clean the drainpipe.

Step 23: Put another pot of boiling water in the drain.

Water can be boiled in your pot.To flush the foam from the sink, slowly pour the water down the drain.