How to Unclog Any Drain - Kitchen Cabinets

Unclogging a blocked drain can be a frustrating task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and techniques, you can get even the most stubborn clogs cleared quickly and easily. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through all the steps for unclogging any drain in your home.

Getting Started with Drain Cleaning

Before you can clear a clog, you need to assemble the proper equipment. Here are the basic tools you’ll need:

Plunger – A standard sink plunger with a bell-shaped rubber cup on the end of the handle is perfect for creating suction to dislodge clogs. Make sure the plunger is large enough to cover the drain opening completely.
Drain snake/auger – For tougher clogs, a drain snake can reach deep into pipes to clear blockages. Hand crank and electric powered augers are available. Get a snake that’s long enough to reach at least 10-15 feet to handle most household drains.
Gloves – Wear protective gloves when handling a drain snake or harsh drain cleaners to avoid direct contact with skin. Thick rubber gloves are ideal.
Bucket – Have a bucket on hand to collect any backed up water when clearing clogs.
Rag – Use an old rag to wipe up any splashes or drips when unclogging a drain.
Safety goggles – When using chemical drain cleaners, always wear protective goggles to shield your eyes.
Drain cleaner – Commercial drain cleaning products with active ingredients like lye or sulfuric acid can help dissolve really stubborn clogs. Use them as a last resort.
Boiling water – In some cases, pouring very hot or boiling water down the drain can help melt or loosen clogs. Exercise caution to avoid injury.
Baking soda and vinegar – For mild clogs, mixing baking soda and vinegar can create a fizzing chemical reaction to help break up gunk.

Types of Drains and Identifying Clogs

Before using any drain cleaning methods, it’s helpful to understand the different types of drains in your plumbing system and how to pinpoint clogs.

Kitchen Sink Drains

Kitchen sinks generally have two types of drains – a basket strainer in the main sink basin and a vertical waste line drain for the garbage disposal. Clogs here are typically caused by grease buildup or food particles like coffee grounds. Signs of a kitchen drain clog include:

Water draining slowly or not at all
Gurgling noises from the drain
Bad odors coming from the drain area
Backed up water and suds in the sink
Leaking water under the sink

Bathroom Sink Drains

Bathroom sink drains are prone to clogs from hair, toothpaste, soap scum and more. A clogged bathroom sink will display these symptoms:

Water not draining or draining slowly after use
Water pooling in the sink basin
Gurgling or bubbly sounds from the drain
Toothpaste, hair and debris collecting in drain openings

Shower and Bathtub Drains

Shower and tub drains get clogged with hair, soap residue, and other gunk. Signs of a clogged bath/shower drain include:

Water pooling around your feet during a shower
Overflowing water when plugging the tub for a bath
Noticeable slow drainage after use
Hair catcher full of debris

Floor Drains

Floor drains in basements, garages, patios and other areas are prone to leaves, dirt and debris. A clogged floor drain shows these signs:

Standing water around the drain, especially after rain or water runoff
Slow water drainage compared to normal
Gurgling or bubbling coming from the drain
Bad smells emanating from the drain

Toilet Drains

Toilets clog from too much toilet paper, flushable wipes and other objects. A clogged toilet has these indicators:

Water in bowl rises when flushed
Water moves sluggishly or overflows
Toilet takes longer than normal to drain
Need to flush multiple times to clear bowl

Main Cleanout

The main cleanout drain provides access to your home’s main sewer line and is usually located outside your home or in the basement. If the main cleanout is clogged, you’ll experience slow drainage and backed up water in multiple drains at once.

Identifying the Clog Location

Pinpointing the exact location of the clog helps determine the best method for cleaning the drain. Here are some tips for isolating the clog:

Run water in all sink faucets and showers – clogged drains will have issues draining and gurgling sounds.
Flush all toilets – clogged toilets will be slow to drain.
Use a small mirror to inspect sink and tub drains for obstructions.
Unscrew and remove P-traps under sinks to check for clogs.
Use a drain snake to feel for tough clogs deep in drain pipes.
Pour water into roof gutters to see if outdoor drains clog.

Unclogging Methods by Type of Drain

Now let’s look at the various methods for clearing out different kinds of clogged drains:

Unclogging a Sink Drain

Try a plunger first – Place a sink plunger tightly over the drain opening and plunge vigorously 15-20 times to loosen the clog. Add water if needed to create a better suction seal.

Use baking soda and vinegar – Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup vinegar. Cover the drain tightly for 5 minutes as the fizzing reaction works to break up gunk. Rinse with hot water.

Snake the drain – Insert the end of a sink drum auger into the drain opening and crank the handle as you push the snake deeper to hook and dislodge clogs.

Remove the P-trap – Unscrew the P-trap pipes underneath the sink to remove the curved section. Inspect and clean out the trap and use a wire to fish out any debris in the drain opening.

Use a zip-it tool – Insert the barbed end of a zip-it into the drain and pull out hair, gunk and debris when you feel it attach to an obstruction.

Try an enzymatic cleaner – Enzyme drain cleaners break down organic matter like food, hair, etc. Use per product instructions. Let it sit for several hours or overnight if needed.

Unclogging a Bathtub Drain

Plunge the drain – Use a large round plunger designed for tubs. Seal it over the drain and plunge forcefully to create pressure against clogs.

Remove tub drain cover – Unscrew the drain plate using pliers or a wrench to access clogs. Remove hair and debris, then reattach the plate.

Snake the drain – Use an electric powered auger or hand crank snake to reach deep into the curved tub drain pipe and hook blockages.

Boiling water – Heat several pots of water to a rapid boil. Carefully pour down the tub drain to melt and push through soap, hair and other gunk.

Clean with a wire – Straighten out a sturdy wire coat hanger and insert it into the drain opening to pull out hair and debris.

Try drain solvents – Liquid drain cleaners containing lye or sulfuric acid can help dissolve hair, soap scum, etc. Use extreme caution.

Unclogging a Shower Drain

Plunge the drain – Use a large round plunger to forcefully plunge the shower drain 15-20 times to dislodge clogs.

Snake the drain – Insert a drain auger through the drain plate and crank the handle clockwise as you push the snake into pipes.

Remove drain cover – Use a wrench to unscrew the shower drain plate and inspect for obstructions. Clean out debris and reattach.

Boiling water – Heat water to a rapid boil and carefully pour down the shower drain to melt soap, hair and other gunk clogging pipes.

Use a bent wire – Straighten out a sturdy wire clothes hanger and bend the end to create a hook. Reach into drain openings to pull out hair and debris.

Try drain cleaner solvents – Use caustic liquid drain cleaners to dissolve hair, soap scum and other organic materials. Follow product safety warnings.

Unclogging a Sink Floor Drain

Scoop out debris – Use a small trowel or spoon to scoop out leaves, dirt and other debris clogging the drain opening.

Flush with hot water – Boil several pots of water and pour them through the drain opening to wash away debris.

Snake the drain – Insert a floor drain auger through the drain plate and twist the handle while applying downward pressure to hook and remove clogs.

Clean with wire brush – Attach a coarse cleaning brush to a sturdy wire and scrub the inside of the drain opening to remove gunk.

Use an air compressor – Insert the air hose tip 2-3 inches into the drain opening. Blast short bursts of air to forcefully dislodge clogs. Wear eye protection.

Flush drain Runs – Detach drain pipes connected to the floor drain and flush hot water through to push out debris from below.

Unclogging a Main Cleanout

Snake the line – Insert an electric powered auger into the cleanout opening and drill it 15-20 feet into the main line to hook and dislodge clogs.

Flush the line – Attach a garden hose to the cleanout opening using a hose-to-pipe adapter. Turn on full force to wash away line obstructions.

Use a plumber’s snake – Plumbers have extra long snakes that can reach 50-100 feet to clear deeper main line clogs beyond a cleanout.

Hydrojetting service – Professional drain techs use high-powered water jetting to scour away stubborn obstructions from main sewer pipes.

Chemical drain cleaner – Commercial heavy-duty caustic liquid drain openers can help dissolve organic clogs in sewer lines. Use extreme caution near cleanouts.

Install cleanout access – If no exterior cleanout exists, have a plumber install one to provide better access for clearing main drain obstructions in the future.

Unclogging a Toilet Drain

Use a toilet plunger – Place a bell-shaped plunger designed for toilets over the hole in the bowl. Plunge vigorously 15-20 times to unclog.

Snake the toilet – Insert a toilet auger through the bowl and crank the handle clockwise as you rotate and drive the snake into the trapway and drain pipe.

Flush with hot water – Carry several pots of hot water quickly to the toilet and dump them forcefully into the bowl one after another to wash away the clog.

Empty toilet bowl – Use a cup to remove all water from the toilet bowl. Place a towel on the floor around the base in case of overflow.

Use caustic drain cleaner – Carefully follow product instructions and safety warnings when using sulfuric acid based chemicals to dissolve toilet clogs.

Disconnect toilet – Turn off water supply and disconnect the toilet at the floor flange using a wrench. Inspect the opening for clogs.

Drain Cleaning Techniques and Tips

Here are some additional pointers and advice to help you safely and effectively clean drains of all kinds:

Wear protective rubber gloves and goggles when handling drain snakes or caustic drain cleaners. Never use a chemical drain cleaner and plunger at the same time. The chemicals can splash back or overflow.
When using a drain snake, go slowly and be gentle. Pushing too hard can damage pipes or scratch fixtures. If you feel significant resistance, the clog may require a professional plumber with larger equipment.
Limit use of harsh chemical drain cleaners. They can damage pipes with prolonged use. Try safer solutions first like baking soda/vinegar or boiling water.
For sinks and showers, use a drain cover catcher to prevent excess hair from reaching pipes in the first place. Remove and clean hair and debris from the drain catcher regularly.
Clogs often form again in spots where previous obstructions lodged. Run hot water for a few minutes after unclogging to rinse away any residual debris.
Prevent re-clogging by changing habits such as not flushing dental floss, using hair strainers, minimizing grease poured down drains, etc.
Schedule annual drain cleaning maintenance to keep your plumbing pipes clear. Preventative cleaning can keep drains free flowing.
Know when to call for reinforcements. Some extreme clogs require professional drain cleaning equipment like high pressure jetting or video drain inspection.
Try not to use any harsh drain cleaning chemicals like sulfuric acid. Opt for safer homemade solutions whenever possible to avoid long term pipe corrosion.
Be cautious when using boiling water to clear drains. As it dislodges the clog, pressure can cause hot water to splash back out of the drain unexpectedly.

Clearing Clogs in Specific Areas

Drain clogs can happen in any part of the home. Here are some tips for clearing obstructions in specific rooms:

Unclogging Kitchen Drains

Kitchen sink

Use a sink plunger first before trying other methods.
Remove the P-trap under the sink to check for debris.
Pour a pot of boiling hot water down the drain to melt grease clogs.
Use a sink auger/snake to reach deep dishwasher drain obstructions.

Garbage disposal

Insert an Allen wrench in the bottom of the disposal to manually turn the rotor and dislodge jams.
Unplug and reach inside the disposal with tongs to pull out obstructing food items.
Run ice cubes through the disposal to scrub the internal grinding components.

Dishwasher drain

Remove any debris or food particles clogging the dishwasher filter/trap.
Use a wire coat hanger to fish out obstructions from the discharge hose.
Disconnect the hose to remove stubborn clogs or flush with hot water.

Clearing Bathroom Drains

Bathroom sink

Try a bathroom plunger first before using a chemical cleaner or snake.
Remove the P-trap and clean out hair, toothpaste gunk, etc.
Boil water on the stove and carefully pour down the bathroom sink.

Bathtub/shower

Use a hair catcher drain cover to prevent hair buildup over time.
Remove the tub drain plate and extract hair and soap debris by hand.
Use a stiff wire bent into a hook shape to pull up debris from the drain.

Toilet

Quickly plunge a clogged toilet 10-15 times using a bell-shaped plunger.
Insert an auger at bowl outlet and drill into drain to hook and pull out obstruction.
Pour hot water rapidly into the toilet to wash out debris.

Preventing Future Clogs

Clogs often recur unless you make some changes to prevent them. Here are some tips to stop clogs before they start:

Use drain screens – Install sink basket strainers and tub drain covers to catch hair and debris before reaching the pipes.
Mind the grease – Avoid pouring fats, oils and grease down kitchen sinks to prevent buildup in pipes. Wipe greasy pans with paper towels first.
Limit food waste – Scrape plates and dispose food scraps in the trash instead of the garbage disposal to avoid jams.
Install hair catchers – Place hair catchers over shower and tub drains to catch loose strands before they can clog pipes.
Go easy on chemicals – Don’t overuse harsh bathroom cleaners and bleach that can eat away pipes and lead to obstructions.
Use a grinder – Allowing food scraps to go down the disposal undrained can cause clogs. Turn on the cold water and run the disposal grinder for 30 seconds after.
Skip “flushable” wipes – Avoid flushing any wipes down the toilet – even those labeled flushable. They don’t degrade and can catch in pipes.
Schedule drain cleaning – Preventative drain cleaning every 6 months to a year will keep your pipes clear and free of recurring clogs.

When to Call a Professional

While many basic household clogs can be cleared with a simple plunger or snake, some situations do require calling in a professional plumber:

If DIY methods don’t work to dislodge the clog after a few attempts.
If multiple drains in your home are backing up and the main line may be blocked.
If you have a septic tank system – only professionals should clear these drains to avoid damage.
If you can see the clog deep down in the pipes but can’t reach it with a standard snake.
If drain backups are spilling sewage in your home and posing health risks.
If your drain pipes show signs of serious deterioration from age, rust or chemical damage.
If the clog may be located beyond your home’s foundation in the city sewer mains.
If you experience chronic and frequent drain clogs – a deeper issue may need repair.
For commercial drain systems or large home systems that require power drain cleaning equipment.

A professional plumber has specialized snakes that can reach 100 feet or more into main sewer pipes, high pressure water jetting to scour pipes, and drain cameras to inspect damage. They can also suggest fixes like pipe lining if simple snaking fails to clear chronic clogs.

FAQs About Unclogging Drains

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about clearing different types of drain obstructions: