How to Clean a Sink Drain

Is your drain sluggish or backed up? It's a good idea to clean your drainage pipes to keep them free of odors and clogs. Here are a few simple steps to get your drain working properly in no time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Lemon Juices
• Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Drain Cleaners
• Rock Salt
• Measuring cups

1. Run very hot tap water through the drain after each use. This is one way to keep a drain free of odors. Try to avoid getting vegetable matter or grease in a kitchen drain. Try to avoid letting hair accumulate in bathroom drains. Treat any partially clogged drain promptly.
2. Pour a handful of baking soda into the kitchen drain about once a week, then run very hot tap water through it. Or pour 1 c. vinegar or lemon juice in and let it stand for 30 minutes. Then run hot water through the drain. These steps will clean the drain of odors.
3. Pour a strong salt brine down the kitchen sink drain regularly to eliminate odors and to keep grease from building up.
4. Consider buying a drain cleaner solution. Be sure to read the label regarding its safety for your type of pipes. Make sure the solution is safe for plastic pipes or a garbage disposal, if that's what you have. The solution can eat away at the grease, food, hair, soap film and organic wastes that tend to clog drains. Usually, treatment with solution once a month will be enough for proper maintenance of your drains, traps and pipes. Be sure to follow the drain cleaner instructions.
5. Consider a natural drain cleaner if you don't like using chemicals. Pour 1/2 c. baking soda into your drain. Follow this with 1/2 c. white vinegar. The baking soda is basic and the vinegar is acidic, so they will react with a churning action that will help keep the drain clean without dangerous chemicals.
6. Call a licensed plumber for anything beyond regular drain cleaning and simple unclogging of drains. For example, if tree roots grow into your house drains, you will need a professional service such as Roto-Rooter.

Tips & Warnings

• Help keep tree roots from growing into house drains by flushing 2 c. rock salt or 2 c. copper sulfate down the toilet during the last flush of the night. You may have to flush a few times to get the material down. Don't use both products at the same time. Do the same procedure two weeks later and then wait six months before doing it again.
• If you decide to use a chemical drain cleaner, be very careful. Follow the directions and react immediately if you get the drain cleaner on your skin, eyes or even clothes. Follow the flushing instructions on the container.

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