How Do You Clean Drains?

• Eliminate odors using a mixture of white vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. Pour about ½ cup each of baking soda and vinegar down the drain first, plug the drain, and allow the mixture to sit for 15 minutes. Boil water and pour it down the drain.
• Use a biological cleaner like Zep or Citra-Drain that uses enzymes or other biological agents to eliminate odors and buildup.
• Use a mixture of ice, coarse salt, and lemon peels to clean a stinky garbage disposal. Grind the mixture in the disposal to scour build-up.

When you do have a bad clog, don’t risk damaging your pipes with a strong off-the-shelf drain cleaner. Instead, leave the drain cleaning in Fort Worth, TX to the professionals at True Plumbing. You can get our assistance by calling 817-542-1980.

What do plumbers use to unclog drains?

When you call out a professional plumber like True Plumbing to unclog a drain, they have multiple options for drain cleaning. A simple clog may only require a simple tool like a plunger. Of course, most people are familiar with the drain auger, or snake, and you might even have a mechanical, hand-cranked one. But, plumbers often use motorized snakes that clean out clogs thoroughly without damaging the pipes. For really serious clogs or blockages caused by debris like tree roots, plumbers often use hydro-jetting technology, in which high-pressure streams of water are shot through the pipes to clear the clog. 

Drain cleaning and camera

Sometimes clogs get deep in the drains and sewer lines, or the lines get blocked with tree roots or other debris. In this case, plumbers often need to send a camera down the line to find the blockage before it’s cleared. These waterproof cameras are mounted on a tube and sent down the sewer line while the plumber monitors it on a screen to find the clog. Often these clogs have to be cleared with a hydro-jetting machine.

Drain cleaning for roots

Tree roots can become a serious problem for your sewer and drain lines, often causing clogs that can lead to nasty back-ups. Several methods can be used for drain cleaning in this case. One method you can use is pouring rock salt down the toilet and flushing. Rock salt—copper sulfate—is poisonous to plants and leeches water from the roots. You can also use foaming root killers that are less abrasive on the pipes.

What is a good homemade drain cleaner?

When it comes to do-it-yourself drain cleaning without chemicals, it’s preferable not to use off-the-shelf drain cleaners. While they often do the trick, repeated use can really damage your pipes and can also harm the environment. There are many mixtures you can make yourself that will unclog your drains if you are wondering, “How do I unclog my drain naturally?” Many times you can use things you have in your kitchen or pantry. Two of the most common items on these lists include baking soda and vinegar. Pour about half a cup each down your kitchen sink, plug the sink, and let them sit for about 15 minutes before pouring a pan of boiling water down the sink will break up some common clogs like grease. 

You may have to rinse with boiling water several times, though, to get particularly tough clogs cleared. Baking soda, salt, and about one-eighth cup of cream of tartar also works. This mixture will have to sit overnight for it to be effective. Borax, salt, and vinegar can also be mixed together and rinsed with boiling water. The mixture will have to sit for about half an hour.

To cut simple grease clogs, mix two tablespoons of dishwashing detergent in with boiling water and pour it down the drain. You can do this at least once per week to keep grease and oils like coconut oil from building up in the sink. One advantage of almost all these solutions: most will also eliminate any odors the clogs have created.

Will Coca Cola unclog a drain?

You may have seen Coca Cola used to clean corrosion off a car battery, but will the soft drink work for drain cleaning? Yes, is the short answer. You can pour a 2-liter bottle of Coke or similar soft drink down a drain to clear a drain. Let it work for about an hour before rinsing the drain with hot water. It acts similarly to a commercial drain cleaner. It’s usually best to use colas for stubborn clogs, while baking soda and vinegar work best for smaller clogs. The syrups and sugars can leave a sticky film on the sink and drain that will need to be rinsed away.