The warning signs of a clogged drain are pretty obvious. You will notice the sink draining slower than usual, water pools around your feet when you are taking a shower etc. The odor is the worst of them all. That’s when you know something is not right and you need professional cleaning services Tucson as soon as possible. But forget about the experts for a minute.
Below are some simple ways to clean the drains on your own, and spend close to nothing in the process.
Boiling Water
This is perhaps the easiest solution. Boil some water, as much as your kettle can hold, and then slowly pour it down the drain. Allowing a few seconds between sets, pour the water slowly three or four times.
Bent Wire Hanger
This is another simple method to unclog a blocked drain. Straighten a wire hanger and curve a hook at the end. Push it further into the drain and then pull it back. You will be surprised at the stuff that you will pull out, usually hair. When you are done, run some hot water down the drain.
Pipe Cleaning
Emptying the trap underneath the sink is another simple solution. Set a bucket under the trap. Get a wrench and loosen the trap. Empty the content into the bucket. Remove any debris stuck in the trap and pipes that hold it in place. You can use an old brush to scrape off the gunk, rinse and return the trap to its position.
Caustic Soda
While caustic soda can cause burns, it’s an effective way of doing house cleaning Tucson. You will need eye and glove protection for this. Stir some caustic soda in a bucket until it fizzes and heats up. Pour this mix into the drain and give it about 20 minutes. Flush the drain using boiling water.
Wet and Dry Vacuum
If you have a wet and dry vacuum, you are in luck. Program it for liquid vacuuming. To avoid a messy work environment, cover the vent. Create a very tight seal around the drain cover. Once you have the area airtight, turn the vacuum to the highest setting and the power will unclog the drain.
Baking Soda and Salt
Mix half a cup each of baking soda and table salt and pour it into the blocked drain. Give it 15 minutes to settle and then rinse the drain with boiling water. It’s the chemical reaction of salt and baking soda with boiling water that will clear most of the blockages.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Mix a third a cup each of vinegar and baking soda. As soon as it starts fizzing, pour this mix into the drain. The fizzing unclogs the grime and gunk that’s blocking the pipes. Allow it to settle for one hour at least. Flush the mixture with hot water. Another option is to pour dry baking soda into the drain and then pour vinegar.
Dish Detergent
For a clogged toilet, a quarter cup of dish detergent can do the trick. Pour the dish detergent down the bowl and follow through with boiling water. The lubricating effect of the soap will break down any residue. Start plunging and then flush.
Baking Soda, Pressure, Gravity, and Vinegar
Prepare a mixture of baking soda and vinegar as discussed earlier. Cover the drain with a stopper and fill up your bathtub. After an hour, remove the stopper. The pressure that comes from more than 50 gallons of water in the bathtub is enough to wash out any blockage that was loosened by the vinegar mixture.
Drain Snake
This is simply a flexible and long metal rope which has a spiral attached at the other end and is useful in unclogging a blocked drain. It’s the simplest way of doing Tucson house cleaning.