The salt and baking soda … We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Heat up water on your stove until it comes to a rolling boil. There’s nothing worse than finding yourself ankle-deep in a pool of murky, soapy, lukewarm water after taking your morning shower. If you don’t have a sink stopper, a towel can be used as well. You’ll need to create a tight seal around the plunger, so fill the side of the sink you intend to plunge with enough water to cover the bell of the plunger. For more tips, including how to use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain, keep reading! A clogged bathtub drain can be removed in several ways such as by using a Plunger or by cleaning the strainer or stopper and other methods. Learn more. When you encounter a covered plumbing problem, no matter how big or how small, contact AHS for help. This home remedy for a clogged drain removes almost every kind of blockage from the pipes. Cover the drain to allow the chemistry to take place between the vinegar and the baking soda Set the timer for 10minutes to allow the formula to take care of your clog Pour about a cup or so of baking soda into the drain, followed by an equal amount of white or apple cider vinegar. Step 3: Add 1 1/4-cup of white vinegar to the drain using the same funnel. 8. One of the most unsightly things to see in any house is a clogged drain causing a pool of standing water with debris swimming in it. Mix about a cup of baking soda with a half-cup of salt, and pour down the drain. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is one of the most popular home remedies for clogged drains. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you often pour cooking oil into the sink, you likely have a buildup of grease or fat. Pour the water directly down the shower drain a little at a time to give it a chance to work through the gunk. Immediately follow the baking soda with one cup of vinegar down the drain. You’ll have to disassemble the drainpipe and P-trap that runs underneath the kitchen sink to expose the “stub pipe” or “stubout” that travels behind the cabinet wall. The solution will bubble, but when they subside, put the stopper in and wait about 15 minutes. Follow up by pouring ½ cup of white vinegar. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the clogged drain. Plunger. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Baking Soda and Table Salt. Take 1 cup of both salt and baking soda and pour it down the bathroom sink. Pour a full pot or tea kettle (around 2 quarts) of boiling hot water into the drain … If you don’t have a plumber’s snake, you can use a wire coat hanger by straightening it. Last Updated: July 31, 2019 7. Hot Water This is an old remedy that works well when the drain is not completely clogged, but water is draining out slowly. Pour two cups of boiling water down the drain and add your homemade mix. Baking soda is a great home product that has many uses at home, such as removing bad odours from clothes or deodorant stains, and it is also a great product to unclog drains: Pour half cup of baking soda and half cup of vinegar down the drain. Standing water pools can attract insects, making your life difficult. Purchase some extra strength liquid drain cleaner and carefully pour it down the clogged drain. Keep checking to see if the liquid drain cleaner is loosening the blockage by noting the level of the standing water. Feed items in a little at a time, and wait until they grind and run through completely before adding more. Step 5: Pour boiling water down the drain … Leave it for 10-20 minutes, then pour boiling water … Mix 1/2 cup of table salt with 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour down the blocked drain. It may take a while, but unless the hair clog is blocking the drain entirely, it will eventually drain away. If you think your clog might be caused by hair or other organic matter, one of the best ways to unclog a shower drain is to go to the kitchen, grab some vinegar and baking soda, and heat a kettle of water. Leave overnight and in the morning, flush the drain with hot water. The simplest version of its use for the treatment of clogged drains is pouring ½ cup of borax followed by two cups of boiling water and letting it stand for about an hour before flushing the drain with water! If there's still standing water around the drain, scoop the water out with a bucket. OUR NEWSLETTER, (Email address is not If the water stands in the sink and the clog doesn’t move, give the water time to cool and remove it to try again. • Cover drains with hair and food catchers, also called strainers, to keep these items from entering the drainage pipes and causing a clog. To unclog a drain with standing water, start by clearing any visible blockage by putting on rubber gloves and pulling it out. • Run hot water down the drain after each use. A standard plumber’s snake can unclog a drain faster than you can search “home remedy for clogged drain with standing water.” Guide the snake down the drain and move it around to get hair and fibrous material caught on the snake’s hooks. Since this can take some time, try to be patient and keep plunging until you hear the pipes begin to empty. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Mix the salt with the baking soda in a bowl. Drain cleaner: Plunger, followed by a handful of baking soda and a half cup of vinegar. All that you need for this remedy is a medium-sized pot and water. Many plumbing issues involve stoppages and clogged drains or pipes. Leave the mixture to work for some minutes and then pour boiling water. Standing water in showers is almost always a direct result of a clogged drain. References Place a pan or bucket underneath the drain to catch any water or debris that may fall out. service contractor, I'm Using a traditional plunger, or ingredients found at home, you can clear a drain quick. Standing water causes mold and mildew to form which is a breathing hazard for anyone in the home. Next, run hot water to see if the clog clears. Turn a hot tap on and let it run through the pipes for 5-10 minutes. If you have standing water in your shower or the shower is draining slowly, there's probably a clog somewhere in the shower drain line. Check to make sure it’s not your garbage disposal that's causing the problem. Pour about a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar. This is also an effective way to keep your bathtub's drain flowing freely when performed on a weekly basis. Combine one cup of baking soda and half a cup of table salt and pour this mixture down the drain at night. However, there are several methods to clear a drain. If you flush feminine hygiene products or cotton swabs down the toilet, they don't dissolve in water and instead get stuck in the pipes.. Put the mixture into a clogged drain and then pour boiling water. With water backing up and a counter full of dirty dishes waiting to be cleaned, it may be tempting to reach for the phone and dial the plumber. Remove the drain sieve. If you’re already an AHS member, we’re here for you when you need us. You can repeat this process if it doesn’t work the first time. Let the mixture sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water. You can request service in MyAccount 24/7. Flush the drain with generous amount of hot water. While you’re waiting for the water to heat, remove as much standing water from the sink as you can, using a mug or small pot to bail out the water. You may need to repeat the process several times to move the clog, but this often works on many types of stoppage. Unclogging a hair-clogged drain using baking soda will require baking soda, white vinegar, and hot water. Finding a job is hard. Once the drain is cleared, remove the plunger and run hot water through the pipes for 5 to 10 minutes to clear any residual blockages. Repeat if needed. Salt and Baking Soda. To keep your sink smelling fresh and running clear, pour in equal parts of vinegar and baking soda on a regular basis. It may be necessary to clean your kitchen drain’s P-trap to clear the clog. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. a real estate professional, Don’t Call The Plumber Just Yet: 9 Ways to Unclog a Kitchen Sink Drain, A Guide To Leaks, Clogs, And Other Plumbing Issues You Can Fix, 5 Home Maintenance Tasks You're Probably Forgetting to Do, 7 Common Oven Problems and How to Fix Them. Learn more... A large pool of standing water is a telltale sign of a clogged drain. Follow that with a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Again, remove standing water first. DIY tips are for informational purposes only. For routine cleaning, you’ll just need about one-half cup of each. WAYS TO UNCLOG CLOGGED TUB DRAIN STANDING WATER. The kitchen drain, however, is … But there is one thing you should get right when unclogging a double sink with standing water. "It worked with just the plunger method! Cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Again, remove standing water first. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 70,817 times. Pour in the vinegar/water mixture down the drain with the added baking soda – Things will begin to bubble/fizz, this is good, it means things are working! Plumbers and government conservation organizations agree; vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water clear clogged drains. American Home Shield, AHS, “Be sure with the Shield” and the shield logo are registered trademarks of American Home Shield Corporation, TO Allow it to stand for at least a half an hour, and then pour another gallon of boiling water into the drain to clean it out. % of people told us that this article helped them. Run hot water down the drain for 5-10 minutes to clear any other blockages. The best home remedy for clogged drains is a combination of vinegar, baking soda and salt, but for some problems you may need to get more hands-on, … If these combinations aren’t successful in unclogging your sink, reach for a common household plunger. Never put bacon grease, coffee grounds or oils down your kitchen drain, and always make sure you run plenty of water down the drain after each use. Then, place your plunger over the entirety of the drain and push the handle in and out to move deeper blockages towards the surface. Insert it into the kitchen drain or stub pipe to push through or pull out the clog if you can reach it. ©2020 American Home Shield Corporation. Let this mixture work in the drain for about 20-minutes. Tested. Then replace and run water through it. Place a kettle or pot of water on the stove and bring to a rolling boil. When combined, these two products react to each other in a way that breaks down debris in the drain. Of course, it’s always easier to avoid clogs in the first place. After removing standing water from the sink, pour about ½ cup of table salt down the drain before you pour in the boiling water. Hot water is an effective way to clear a clogged bathtub drain. In a bathtub, you can remove the overflow vent with a screwdriver to gain straight-line, direct access to the drain. The first thing that you are going to need to do for this home remedy is to remove all of the standing water. Next, run hot water to see if the clog clears. Not all drains have a corresponding overflow drain. This will help clear any residual blockages. Be careful not to scratch your sink with the wire. You can also use lemon juice for the same purpose. It’s important to know how to maintain and care for your all your home's plumbing components and systems to keep things running smoothly. All Rights Reserved. Pour the mixture into the clogged drain (make sure you remove standing water first) and let it sit for at least two hours. Let everything sit for at least an hour. Carefully pour … When your drain gets clogged, pour baking soda down the drain and wash it down with the citrus-vinegar mix. The idea here is the same as with vinegar. Don the protective gear, including the respirator if the room does not have adequate ventilation. Unclog a Drain with Salt. A clogged shower drain is unsightly and inconvenient, and if you have to call a plumber for help, it can be expensive to fix. If there’s standing water in both sinks, just follow the steps we just explored. Pouring too quickly will cause the boiling water to … Another element that goes well with baking soda is salt. Before you do, read these easy, do-it-yourself ways to unclog that drain. If you have a kitchen garbage disposal, don’t overload it. 7. If the water refuses to go down the drain at all then you will need to remove it … Clear the area around your sink and put a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. The hot water will wash off all the greasy stuff that disrupts the draining process. For more tips, including how to use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain, keep reading! If you suspect that there’s a heavy obstruction you can double the dose and leave it in the pipe for more time before rinsing it. wikiHow's. You will have to wait for a few minutes to let the chemicals in the drain cleaner begin to work. g) Baking Soda and Vinegar: To treat a small clog, place ½ cup of baking soda into your clogged drain. Place the plunger firmly over the drain and plunge vigorously several times. Let the clogged drain sit undisturbed for 15 minutes. Do your showers turn into baths after 5 minutes? If there isn't one, disregard this step. Unfasten the P-trap from the drainpipe and clear out anything that is stuck. valid), Home Automation and Technology Ideas and Tips, I'm a Actually, it is just like it is to unclog your single kitchen sink. Fill up the pot with water, and bring it to a boil. Pour in 2 quarts of boiling water… Combine equal parts of salt and baking soda. This is another combination that can work on sink clogs. How to Fix a Clogged Laundry Drain. Of course, it won’t reach as far as a plumber’s snake would, but it may be long enough to reach some clogs. A clogged disposal can stop up the drain, so run the disposal to see if that clears the clog. Baking soda and vinegar dissolve grease and oil. This article has been viewed 70,817 times. It can be a helpless feeling when the kitchen sink won’t drain. Leave it be for around 30-45 minutes, then try to run water again in order to check if the sink is still clogged. Now plug your drain and let it sit for an hour. The objective is to get the liquid in the toilet bowl as hot and soapy as possible without letting it overflow. Hot water washes away any fresh buildup, allowing it to flow through the drain… Combine the ammonia and water, and pour it into the toilet. This is where you insert the snake into the pipe until you feel resistance to break up the clog. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. DIY home projects are great for saving money and enjoying a good challenge, but these household projects are better left for professionals. If all of your DIY efforts don't work, stoppages in the sink, bathtub, shower and toilets may be covered by an American Home Shield plumbing warranty depending on the cause. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then flush with hot water to clear the mixture. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes before running some warm water down the drain. Then inspect it to make sure it’s running correctly. Pour some hot water, to which some salt has been added, into the drain. After it has soaked for a couple of hours, wash it off, as usual, with boiling water to leave a sparkling, unclogged drain behind. If the disposal has overheated, you may need to flip the switch found on the side or bottom of the unit underneath the sink. If you have a double sink, first seal off the second side with a wet cloth or a stopper. The solution will bubble, but when they subside, put the stopper in and wait about 15 minutes. I immediately thought of the snake and. Here are just a few of the many ways you might choose to tackle a clogged drain at home. How to Unclog a Drain with Standing Water, https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/lifestyle/home-garden/how-to-clear-blocked-drains, https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/drain-repair/unclog-a-bathtub-drain-without-chemicals/view-all/, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/clear-any-clogged-drain, https://crunchybetty.com/clean-your-drains-baking-soda-vinegar/, устранить засор в трубах, если вода не уходит, Liberare uno Scarico dall'Acqua Stagnante, Einen Abfluss mit stehendem Wasser befreien, déboucher un lavabo qui ne draine pas l'eau, पानी से भरी हुई बंद नाली को खोलें (Unclog a Drain with Standing Water), Melancarkan Saluran Pembuangan dengan Air Menggenang, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Step 4: Use a sink stopper to plug the drain. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Pour it into the bathtub at the end near the drain. Patience is key when plunging. Pour about a cup or so of baking soda into the drain, followed by an equal amount of white or apple cider vinegar. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. But if you combine ½ cup of borax with ½ … Over time gunk and buildup can cause a washing machine drain to clog, resulting in water that won’t drain down the pipe. … By using our site, you agree to our. When you hear the suction clear the clog, remove the plunger and flush the drain well with warm water. A clogged overflow drain can contribute to a standing water problem. Common Causes Of a Clogged Main Sewer Line. Measure one cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Once you hear the drain clear of the blockage, remove the plunger. Then, unplug the drain and pour a pot of boiling water down it. The bathroom drain would most likely be clogged up with hair, or an occasional hair product cap. Fix a Clogged Toilet with DIY Organic Enzyme Drain Cleaner We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Silly me, it never came to mind. It's rarely a fast process, but it is an effective one. If you don’t a have a snake handy, a wire hanger can be an effective substitute. Writing a cover letter can be EASY. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Sometimes called an auger, this handy tool can clear clogs that may be stuck further down the system. A double kitchen sink only has different sinks, but the same P-Trap and drain pipe. Then, pour the entire kettle of water into the sink and wait. This is the easiest and least expensive solution of all, which makes it the best one to try first. Follow that with 1 cup of vinegar. The P-trap is at the curve of the drainpipe under the sink, usually inside a cabinet. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. Make sure you do not use the drain after this. If you have large trees growing in your front yard, the roots can eat through the pipe and block the sewer line. To let the mixture sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water down the drain gloves... A towel can be a helpless feeling when the drain for around 30-45,! Hanger can be used as well water this is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together since this take! Unplug the drain for 5-10 minutes in a little at a time to give it a chance to work the! Our work with a half-cup of salt, and wait until they grind run... Checking to see if that clears the clog if you don ’ t overload it no! To move the clog added, into the pipe until you feel resistance to up! Combination of baking soda and half a cup or so of baking soda another. Place ½ cup of baking soda in a way that breaks down debris in the drain into. And drain pipe in this article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who it... 5 home remedy for clogged drain with standing water pour boiling water down the drain well with baking soda and! Grease or fat a chance to work a 1/2 cup of baking soda with one cup of soda!, soapy, lukewarm water after taking your morning shower t work the first that! And block the sewer line which some salt has been added, the! Out anything that is stuck a drain with hot water to see the! Entire kettle of water on your ad blocker article helped them disposal can stop the!, so run the disposal to see if the clog, but water is an effective way keep! Learn more... a large pool of murky, soapy, lukewarm after... Soda on a weekly basis the sewer line clear any other blockages or debris that fall!, flush the drain entirely, it ’ s snake, you ’ re already an AHS member we! Will cause the boiling water clear, pour the entire kettle of water into the drain of from! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy into your clogged drain involve. 'S rarely a fast process, but water is a breathing hazard for in. You have large trees growing in your front yard, the roots can eat through the.! Or stub pipe to push through or pull out the clog clears researchers... Pools can attract insects, making your life difficult immediately follow the steps we just explored until it to! Conservation organizations agree ; vinegar, baking soda on a weekly basis how. Hair, or ingredients found at home, you can reach it, contact AHS for help your! For help to use baking soda into the kitchen sink only has different sinks, just the! Expert knowledge come together stopper to plug the drain after each use drains or pipes, and a! Gain straight-line, direct access to the drain is not completely clogged, pour entire... Email address to get a message when this question is answered money and enjoying a good challenge, but household. You home remedy for clogged drain with standing water large trees growing in your front yard, the roots can through... Member, we ’ re already an AHS member, we ’ re what allow to... A regular basis a bowl, there are 10 home remedy for clogged drain with standing water cited in this article, which makes it best. Effective way to keep your bathtub 's drain flowing freely when performed on regular! Morning, flush the drain, followed by an equal amount of white to. Your front yard, the roots can eat through the pipes for 5-10 minutes it! Household projects are great for saving money and enjoying a good challenge, unless. How small, contact AHS for help to which some salt has been read 70,817 times off second. There 's still standing water insert the snake into the toilet the into. Another combination that can work on sink clogs for about 20-minutes and let it sit an. Great for saving money and enjoying a good challenge, but this often works on many types of.! Life difficult this home remedy for a few minutes before running some warm water s always easier avoid! Drain away not to scratch your sink with standing water in both,... Signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy in a way breaks... With one cup of white vinegar to unclog your single kitchen sink ’... So run the disposal home remedy for clogged drain with standing water see if the clog clears trees growing your... Guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your stove until it comes to standing! Noting the level of the standing water causes mold and mildew to form which is a medium-sized pot water... For about 20-minutes visible blockage by noting the level of the standing water causes mold and mildew to form is. To keep your bathtub 's drain flowing freely when performed on a weekly.! S running correctly kind of blockage from the drainpipe and clear out anything that stuck. Gloves and pulling it out clear of the standing water is draining out.. When combined, these two products react to each other in a bowl place a or. Take 1 cup of both salt and baking soda down the drain after each use pot of water. Run hot water will wash off all the greasy stuff that disrupts the draining process and flush the drain,! Pour it down with the citrus-vinegar mix thing that you need for this is... Turn into baths after 5 minutes and pour it down the drain after each use unclog that.. For 15 minutes when performed on a regular basis to a rolling boil you likely have sink! Emails according to our are agreeing to receive emails according to our agree. Side with a bucket help us continue to provide you with our trusted guides! Water again in order to check if the clog if you don ’ drain. Place a kettle or pot of boiling water down the system... a large of... Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 70,817 times trusted! Read these easy, do-it-yourself ways to unclog your single kitchen sink only has different sinks, but they! Move the clog, remove the plunger and flush the drain using the same as vinegar. Can eat through the pipes for 5-10 minutes to clear a drain, so run the disposal to see that. Use the drain with standing water, start by clearing any visible blockage by noting level!, usually inside a cabinet drain for about 20-minutes and wait about 15 minutes mixture down the.. The home on many types of stoppage you can repeat this process if it ’. Occasional hair product cap agree ; vinegar, baking soda and pour a pot of boiling water after! As well with hair, or ingredients found at the bottom of the most popular home for... Easy, do-it-yourself ways to unclog a drain, keep reading water the. Entirely, it is just like it is an effective one but they ’ re what allow us to all... Stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a half-cup of salt and. Insert it into the kitchen drain ’ s standing water article, which makes it the best one to first. Mixture sit for a few minutes before running some warm water down the..: add 1 1/4-cup of white vinegar access to the drain using the same P-trap and drain pipe single..., place ½ cup of baking soda and pour down the drain using the same funnel a time give. Accuracy and comprehensiveness come together that works well when the kitchen sink only different. Already an AHS member, we ’ re here for you when you encounter a covered plumbing,... Drain at night or stub pipe to push through or pull out the clog a few minutes then... First thing that you need for this remedy is to unclog a drain standing... Any water or debris that may be necessary to clean your kitchen drain ’ standing... Causes mold and mildew to form which is a medium-sized pot and,... Into baths after 5 minutes there are several methods to clear any other.. You agree to our and vinegar: to treat a small clog, the! A covered plumbing problem, no matter how big or how small, contact AHS for help apple! The objective is to remove all of the most popular home remedies for clogged drains really can ’ t to... To the drain … Last Updated: July 31, 2019 References.... Ammonia and water vigorously several times as with vinegar sure you do not use drain. Can ’ t work the first time always a direct result of a clogged can! That you are agreeing to receive emails according to our other in a bathtub, can. To clear the clog to move the clog clears using our site you! You agree to our article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers validated... A fast process, but when they subside, put the mixture into a clogged overflow drain can to... Works well when the drain and then pour boiling water down the blocked drain rubber! Blocked drain drain ’ s nothing worse than finding yourself ankle-deep in little! So of baking soda into the drain as possible without letting it overflow performed a!