Drains in the bathroom often get clogged with soap scum and hair, while kitchen sinks end up getting blocked with food residue.
You may have started to hear gurgling sounds and noticed that there is a foul smell accompanied by slow-draining water.
It is better to tackle the problem immediately rather than allow the blockage to get worse which will most likely require a plumber’s assistance that comes with a hefty bill.
For households looking for a home remedy but finding that the trusty vinegar and baking soda method isn’t working, plumbing experts at Bathroom Takeaway have shared an alternative natural cleaning product.
Fantastic at softening towels and whitening laundry, soda crystals have been recommended by the pros.
They said: “Try using soda crystals, also known as washing soda. It’s a simple and inexpensive solution that can effectively clear even the toughest sink blockages. Best of all, you can complete the five-step process in less than 20 minutes.”
The soda crystals should help to dissolve the blockage if it’s made up of grime and soap residue.
Start by removing the water in the blocked sink, bath or shower and pour a pot of hot but not boiling water down the drain.
Wait for a few minutes for the water to drain away before pouring a cup full of soda crystals down the plughole.
Wait for a minute or so then pour some more hot water down the drain on the crystals once more.
To test if it has worked, pour another pot of hot water down the plughole and the water should drain quickly.
If soda crystals haven’t worked, you may want to be more thorough by trying to use a drain snake.
This is a simple but rather effective drain-unblocking tool. To use it, feed the snake into the drain being careful not to force it down as you do not want to end up causing any damage to the drain.
Gently push the snake until you cannot move it further down. Start rotating it clockwise by using the handle. In this way the snake should find its way into the clog.
As you rotate the snake’s handle back and forth, the blockage should start to break up gradually. Continue until you can feel that there is less resistance.
You may then carefully remove the snake and turn on the tap water to check whether the water is running more freely down the drain than it used to.
After unblocking the drain, rinsing your sink down with hot water at least once a week can keep the buildup of debris away to prevent buildup over time.
