It has happened to everyone to feel a bad smell coming up from the pipes or to notice that the water takes longer to go down. These are clear signs that our drains are about to clog; let’s not underestimate the problem or else we’ll be headed for an even bigger mess.
Clogged drain? This is the remedy to clear it in less than 10 minutes!
Let’s see how to take action to prevent our drains from stinking and then clogging.
We don’t treat the sink like a garbage disposal
Unfortunately, it is a common habit to flush even small solid materials down the drain, such as food scraps and coffee grounds in the kitchen one, or hair and pieces of soap in the bathroom one. It is almost an automatic gesture, which we can avoid by paying attention, but we mostly do it without hardly noticing.
Grease also clogs
If, when it comes to solids, it is more immediate to understand the damage they can do to the drain, in the case of oil and grease we do not always think about the problems they can cause by acting as a “plug” inside the pipes. Their consistency causes them to stick around pipes and clog them, often releasing a foul odor.
To dispose of waste oils, the standard is to transfer them to a container and dispose of them at an eco-center.
Instead, collect grease from pots, pans or dishes with paper towels before washing them to prevent it from running down the drain.
Periodic cleaning to avoid running into problems
Even if we are careful not to get the pipes too dirty, it is always good to do periodic cleaning at least once a month.
There are many chemical solutions on the market, effective, of course, but to avoid polluting, all you need to do is put a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in the drain, add three or four cups of vinegar, wait 15 minutes and rinse everything with a pot of boiling water.
In any case, at least once a year, it would be useful to call in a professional to give the whole system a thorough cleaning.
The super-fast remedy
If you are looking for a very fast and fool proof remedy to unclog the sink, resort to caustic soda: first pour the product inside the drain, then plenty of boiling water. The result is achieved quickly, but you cannot resort to this method frequently!
Lastly, beware of the cold
For those who live in particularly cold areas, it is a good idea to insulate pipes. Freezing temperatures can freeze the water inside drains and clog them
