Drains are an essential part of any bathroom plan. They provide an outlet to the excess water in the bathroom and help it dry up quickly. But as helpful as they are, it’s also not an easy task to maintain bathroom drains. Just a little carelessness and your bathroom drains can get clogged. That’s as close to an earthly nightmare as you can get. And it’s far more common in a household than it looks, that’s why everyone should know how to clean the bathroom drain.
In this article, we’ll cover different ways to clean clogged bathroom drains easily. Moreover, we have also mentioned how you can prevent the clogging of bathroom drains. That should cover the basics of bathroom maintenance for you.
Why you should clean bathroom drains regularly
To some, it’s a question of cleanliness and hygiene. To others, it’s also about cost-effectiveness and general maintenance. There are numerous reasons why you should clean your bathroom drains regularly. First of all, bathroom drains can get clogged up if not cleaned regularly. That results in a foul smell and an open breeding ground for germs. Second, cleaning your bathroom drain regularly will increase its lifespan by reducing any damage. Regular cleaning also helps detect early plumbing issues like damaged pipes. This will help you save money on costly drain repairs. That sums up why you should learn how to clean bathroom sinks.
How to clean clogged bathroom drains
Before we tell you how to clean a bathroom sink drain trap, let’s first discuss some preparatory steps. First, remove the drain cover carefully and place it aside. Next, loosen and pull out the clean-out plug from the drain. Now, wear a pair of gloves (and an eyeshield if you are working with chemicals).
That’s it! Let’s learn different ways to clean a clogged bathroom drain:
Get chemical drain cleaners
If you want a quick and easy way out, you can rely on chemical drain cleaners to unclog your drain. Such cleaners have active chemicals that will instantly melt the sludge in the drain and clear the way out. Read the instructions on the cleaner carefully and be cautious while using such substances. Also, do a patch test on your floor tiles before using any chemical. This will avoid any further damage in case the cleaner is not compatible. Once your drain is unclogged, you can wipe the area around the drain to clean residues and germs. Don’t forget to use a disinfectant in the drain to prevent bacteria build-up.
Use a drain snake
A drain snake, also commonly known as a toilet auger, is a device often used by plumbers to unclog drains. You can get one online easily. To clean the drain, just push the snake down and crank its handle. When you feel some resistance against the snake, you’ve hit the sludge. Now slowly rotate the handle some more till the resistance goes away. Then you can carefully pull out the snake with the sludge. Clean the drain and the floor around with a disinfectant.
Use baking soda
Baking soda works great when paired with some other ingredients to unclog the drains. Since it’s a base, it helps clean sludge and stains easily. You can use baking soda with either salt or vinegar. Mix salt and soda in a 50:50 ratio to form 4 tablespoons of the mixture. Put the mixture in the drain and wait. Now pour some 4-5 cups of steam-hot water down the drain. The drain will clear out.
Alternatively, you can first pour 1 cup of baking soda into the sink, followed by 2 cups of steam-hot water. After 5 minutes, pour a cup of vinegar down the drain. This will clear out the drain instantly.
Use a plunger
A plunger works extremely well for minor blockages. It is also relatively easier to use than other devices and chemicals. First, you have to pour 1-2 cups of hot water into the clogged drain. Now carefully push the plunger into the drain. Keep pulling and pushing it down with great force for 30-40 seconds. The hot water helps in loosening up the sludge while the plunger removes it from the pipe. You will need to clear out the clog manually after this.
Use a vacuum
Vacuum easily unclogs the drain with intense suction pressure. To do so, you have to set the vacuum cleaner on the highest liquid setting. Next, attach a small seal to the hose to clear the blockage. Once done, turn the vacuum on to agitate the blockage. The sludge is likely to come out directly into the vacuum. If it doesn’t, it will at least be loosened so you can pull it out manually.
How to prevent clogging of bathroom drains
Now that you’ve learned how to clean the bathroom drain, it’s important to maintain them for as long as you can. Here are some preventive measures you can take to keep your bathroom drains running smoothly:
- Avoid the accumulation of solid things around the drain like hair, tissues, soap particles, etc. Check the drain stoppers from time to time for any such accumulation.
- Buy a good drain screen to prevent solid particles from going down the drain.
- You should run steam-hot water down the bathroom drains at least twice a week to clear any buildup in the pipe.
- Avoid using any invasive OTC cleaning substances with hard chemicals down the drain. This may damage your drain pipes over time, further aggravating the issue.
You can avoid any major issues with your drains just by taking these precautions and cleaning your drains yourself regularly. If not maintained well, such small issues can snowball into big hazards like health issues, damaged drainage systems, and severe blockages.
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Conclusion
That’s a wrap on how to clean the bathroom drain! Remember to prioritize prevention over cleaning. It will increase the lifespan of your drains significantly and give you some more time of peace. Although you can clean a drain yourself, don’t hold back from seeking professional help whenever needed.
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