A good way to unclog drains....

[ravengirl]

that doesn't use chemicals, won't harm pipes or septic systems, and really works well:

Pour approximately 1/3 box of baking soda down drain, then pour about the same amount of vinegar down. Let it sit until it stops bubbling. Flush with the hottest tap water possible. Repeat if necessary. This works on bathroom and kitchen sinks, and bathtub drains (with three girls in this house, all of us with long hair, I do this about once per week).

The best part is that the baking soda also works to remove smells!! It's cheap but effective.

Just felt the need to share this tip!! Hope it's helpful.

[MoonMommy]

I have tried this. Didn't help in our house much. Not sure why. We have a problem with hard water build up which may be too much for good old baking soda and vinegar.

[ravengirl]

don't know if this might make a difference (it's kind of gross, sorry in advance), but if you remove the drain cover first, and use some sort of tool (even a chopstick or something), it will remove any residual hair, etc. that may be laying on top of the "X" part of the drain. Sorry, that's the gross part (ick!), but it seemed to work great after I did that.

[HisDaisy]

I use this tip all the time to keep my drains clear. I even cleared my mom's drain this way. She was amazed.

[Teresa T]

Thanks for this tip.

Pulling hair out of a drain does sound gross but it is something I have had to do. Any bent piece of stronger wire works well too. Just bend it to make a hook.

[LadySlipper]

I do this on a regular basis to my drains! Works great. I've never used it on a completely stopped up drain, though. But on drains that are starting to slow up, it works great.

[Ceashels]

http://www.zipitclean.com/index.html We have one of these but haven't used it yet. It would help in the removal of hair clogs prior to baking soda and vinegar.

[ktsmama]

http://www.zipitclean.com/index.html We have one of these but haven't used it yet. It would help in the removal of hair clogs prior to baking soda and vinegar.

I think I would be sick if I used this. I watched the video on the link and it does seem to work, though.

[madhen]

For very slow drains, I just fill the sink/bath/etc up with a few inches of water and use a toilet plunger. Shoves the crud right through. I suspect it would work on a completely stopped drain, but I have never waited for one to get that extreme. I did use it on the sink in my laundry room, which was ALMOST completely clogged. I didn't actually think it would work, but it blasted the cr*p out of that clog, and the sink has been draining like a champ ever since!!

[toile]

I have had slow drains since my builder built this home 8 years ago.
The other day I got curious and decided to make a hook with a wire hanger.
Right away I pulled out plastic construction trash mixed with hair.
Apparently you can't compost plastic inside bathtub drains LOL......

[Michelle]

For very slow drains, I just fill the sink/bath/etc up with a few inches of water and use a toilet plunger. Shoves the crud right through. I suspect it would work on a completely stopped drain, but I have never waited for one to get that extreme. I did use it on the sink in my laundry room, which was ALMOST completely clogged. I didn't actually think it would work, but it blasted the cr*p out of that clog, and the sink has been draining like a champ ever since!!

I tried this on my bathtub just yesterday (completely clogged), and it worked like a charm.

I've also tried the tip that Tina posted, and it worked great too.

[spyzvixxen]

I also do the vinegar/baking soda on slow drains before they get to the point of being completely stopped. Must have been traumatized by the years of watching my mother armed with a coat hanger, the heavy duty industrial plunger and a bottle of lye.

[Goodwin17]

I've used this one a lot, and I love it. Works so well!

[StaceyS]

I've tried the vinegar/baking soda/hot water thing on my tub (that has been slow draining sice I moved in last Nov) and it did not help. I'm going to try the plunger thing (just have to go buy one, though - dollar store maybe??)

[858Smith]

thanks for the tip! i have long hair and my hair always falls out in the shower, so i was just thinking today what i would do to prevent buildup in our new house.