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Clear and Refresh Clogged Drains … Without Calling in a Plumber!
The warning signs of a clogged drain are perfectly clear for most of us. The water in the bathroom sink drains slowly. Tubs and showers become wading pools. There’s an icky soap scum and body oil film left behind as water slowly seeps through blocked pipes. And even worse, the foul odor that accompanies the clog - made up of things like decomposing hair, decaying debris, old grease, and rotting food – yuk.

Let’s face it, clogged drains happen. There’s really no way to avoid it. But don’t call a plumber to solve the problem in 10 minutes and charge you for an hour – we’ve got some insight to what causes clog problems in the kitchen and bathroom and advice to help you fix and refresh them yourself in no time at all.

"If a drain is blocked completely, it's something you need to deal with quickly or face the wrath of a burst pipe or a useless bathroom."… Don Aslett

Let’s start with the clog:
At the first signs of a slow moving drain, be sure to clear away any excess hair and gunk that may be built up in the near downspout of the pipe. When you need to reach into the pipe to remove simple debris, don’t try using a wire hanger that can damage the pipe. Purchase an inexpensive disposable drain snake like Zip-It Drain Cleaners. This flexible plastic tool is 24” long and is designed clear out most simple obstructions like hair and gook without harming pipes. Insert it down into the drain; give it a twist; the hook like edges grab the debris; pull out the Zip It; wrap in a paper towel; throw it away. Simple and easy for slow moving drains!

Step 2: A good plunging may do the trick:
A plunger is also a good first step to breakup and push a clog through the pipe. Here are a few tips to effective plunging: Be sure to fill the sink with some water; Seal the plunger firmly over the drain; work the plunger up and down several times maintaining the seal on the drain; then pull it off the drain opening. In the case of a dual-bowl kitchen sink, you should use a wet rag to plug the second drain while you plunge the blocked one. If it's a bath sink, plug the overflow hole with the wet rag. In both instances, the rag helps deliver the plunging pressure directly to the clog.

When clogs return again and again:
When the clog is too stubborn for Zip-Its or a plunger, or it keeps returning again and again, you’ll want to add a Flexible Drain Brush to your arsenal of clog fighting tools. It’s perfect at removing chronic, caked on debris and knotted hair snags that cause recurring clogs. Much stronger than Zip-Its, yet super flexible, this specialty brush is designed to snuggly fit the inside diameter of most home drain pipes. So it not only removes debris, it cleans the entire inside of the pipe walls to eliminate the small caked on pipe wall debris that will promote more clogs, sooner than later.

Harder to reach, and even tougher to remove:
Another professional option is the Sink Trap Brush. Most slow drains happen because hair, bits of paper, soap and other bits of stuff get firmly plugged tight in the drain fixture itself. Using chemicals to eliminate this clog is not very effective since the chemical can’t cling to the debris and physically get rid of it. The Sink Trap Brush removes bound up hair and other thick pipe-clogging gunk from basin and tub drains. Thin and flexible, this brush can bypass most drainpipe sink stoppers saving you any wrench time, too. The Sink Trap Brush has a firm flexibility and its short stiff bristles allow it clean away dirt and blockage from the inside of overflows and other difficult to reach areas. And best of all, it’s reusable. Just rinse after use and wipe clean with a paper towel.

When it’s time to try a drain cleaner additive, try Ram Rod:
Another option to unclog and maintain clear drains is by using an enzyme digester product. Ram Rod is a professional strength enzyme digester that has the power to unclog, is safe on all pipes, and with regular use it will prevent future clogs from forming. Ram Rod coats the inside of drainpipes with millions of tiny enzymes that penetrate, eat and digest the biological blockages as they build up. An excellent preventative if you have a particular drain in the home that regularly slows or clogs.

When all else fails, resort to a commercial grade drain opener:
Commercial grade drain openers, although somewhat caustic, are designed to blast through obstructions in drains and grease traps. In the event this is your preference to clear clogged drains, avoid sulfuric acid if at all possible. Drain Out Crystal uses caustic soda with aluminum chips. Mixing these two chemical compounds produces both heat and fizzing bubbles that act like a scrubbing agent in clogged pipes. These crystals churn through the toughest clogs and can be used for clearing larger drains and even sewer line obstructions. Drain Out Crystal is effective at eliminating build-up, clearing slow drains, clogs, and eliminating drain odors. And it will not harm plumbing fixtures, metal or plastic pipes or septic systems.

Neutralize drain odors in the kitchen:
In the kitchen, odors can develop in the garbage disposal due to build up of food along the sides and top of the unit. Bits of food cling when you dump stuff into the disposal and when you run the disposal, it can spray up the sides and get on the bottom side of the rubber dam as well. The Garbage Disposal Brush used with the Gel Deodorizer in the garbage disposal will clean and eliminate the odors. Unique bristle design of the Garbage Disposal brush allows you to clean top to bottom and all around your disposal – even under the rubber dam.

Stopping odor in wet places is not so easy:
Gel Deodorizer also works well in difficult to reach and wet odor situations – it is a professional strength odor neutralizer with a natural refreshing citrus scent. Due to its sticky, gelatinous formula, it clings to wet surfaces while removing odors and the icky built up gunk that causes them. Perfect for use in the kitchen, bath and laundry room environments. In kitchen and bathroom sinks, use Gel Deodorizer in the overflow valves to refresh those stinky, stale drains. Also, use it in the shower p-trap. In the laundry room, use Gel Deodorizer in front loading washing machines, utility sinks or floor drains to stop damp, foul odors completely. Gel Deodorizer is also safe for use in septic systems.

Final thought: If trying to fix simple plumbing problems sounds intimidating, at least give it a try before diving for the phone. Worst-case scenario, you have to call a professional. Hope this information helps!