Design & DIY 5 chemical-free ways to clear a clogged drain By Allan Britnell Published: January 15, 2022 Updated: March 26, 2024 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 By New Africa/Shutterstock Take the plunge First up, try clearing the drain with a plunger. Scoop out most of the water so it doesn’t splash all over your counter, leaving enough to cover the base of the plunger to create a vacuum. If it’s a double sink, plug the second drain. If it’s the bathroom sink, block off the overflow drain so you don’t get sprayed. Vigorously plunge up and down several times, then remove the plunger to see if that did the job. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 By focal point/Shutterstock Natural cleansers Anyone who’s ever made their own non-toxic cleaners will be familiar with the power of vinegar and baking soda. Pour baking soda down the drain, then top with vinegar. Wait 15 minutes and then try flushing with hot water. If your drain pipes are metal, you can also try pouring boiling water into the basin to see if that dissolves the clog. (Boiling water might melt PVC pipes.) View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 By grandbrothers/Shutterstock Tool schooling Hair clogs can often be removed with a barbed plastic tool made specifically for the job. Simply insert it into the drain, fish it around a bit, and try to pull out the clog. You’ll have to repeat a few times to get it all. If you have a hand auger (a.k.a. a plumber’s snake) you can also try threading that down the drain to break up or pull out the obstruction. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 By Stanislaw Mikulski/Shutterstock Pull apart the plumbing Still not flowing? It’s time to start disassembling the plumbing. First, check under the sink to see if there’s a drain valve at the bottom of the P-trap. If so, grab a bucket and open the valve. If that doesn’t do the trick, fish a coat hanger or your hand auger into the opening to try to break up the blockage. The final option is to remove the P-trap entirely. Loosen the nuts on either side of the trap and slide it out. Clear the clog and then reinstall the trap. Run some water to test for drainage and leaks. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 By Lipskiy/Shutterstock Prevent future clogs If hair is the primary culprit at your home or cottage, buy some fine mesh hair catchers to place in the drain. And don’t let those tiny slivers of bar soap slip down the drain. Finally, never pour oil or grease down the kitchen sink. Put large amounts of grease into an empty can to coagulate, and then wipe out the pan with paper towel before washing. View in Fullscreen Related galleries 5 CL-approved DIY tricks to simplify life at the cottage Bestselling author Bryn Turnbull’s family cottage used to be covered in frog tchotchkes. Now, it’s a Georgian Bay gem 6 winter maintenance tasks that you never want to ignore 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 chemical-free ways to clear a clogged drain The difficulty and expense of getting a plumber to a remote location forces many cottagers to become DIY repairers by default. But when it comes to clogged drains, you shouldn’t be pouring harsh chemicals into your septic system. Here are some septic-friendly tricks to get the water flowing. Related Story Here’s what to do about the cluster flies at your cottage