How to Break Up Bathroom Clogs

Bathroom clogs are inconvenient and can be messy or expensive to fix. Plumbers charge high prices to fix bathroom clogs, but they can usually be fixed with a few simple tools. Follow these steps to save yourself some trouble and money.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Plunger
• Plumbing snake

1. Pour baking soda into the drain and follow with vinegar. Allow it to sit for five minutes to break up the clog.

2. Flush the clog with water. If the water does not remove the clog, use the plunger.

3. Make sure the plunger forms a tight seal around the drain and thrust down quickly. Remove the plunger. The water should flush the clog away.

4. If the plunger does not remove the clog, the drain needs to be snaked. Insert one end of the drain snake into the drain and turn the handle. You will feel resistance when the snake encounters the clog. Turn the handle until you stop feeling the resistance.

5. Repeat the baking soda and vinegar treatment to remove any remnants of the clog.

Tips & Warnings

• Add baking soda and vinegar to your drain once a month to prevent clogs.
• Do not use chemical drain cleaners on fully clogged drains. If they don't clear the drain, you will be left with a sink full of chemicals that must be manually scooped out before any other repair can be attempted.