How to Clear a Clogged Drain in Germantown & Montgomery County

Ready to pull your hair out over a clogged drain?  Okay, take a deep breath, step away from the sink, loosen the grip on your hair, and then continue reading this blog.

See what we did there?  We’re acknowledging just how frustrating clogged drain problems can be.  Especially if they happen with ridiculous frequency. 

From our own experience as green plumbers and in conversations with our customers, we present these as the top four drain self-cleaning remedies.  We don’t guarantee success, mind you.  But look at it this way:  if none of the following work, at least you’ll know that you’re not the problem.  It’s the blessed drain.  And your next best move is to pick up the phone and call Your 1 Plumber.

But first things first.

1. Give it a green cleaning.  Vinegar and baking soda are a potent drain-busting combination and together are super environmentally friendly.  To get started, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain with a cup of vinegar heated in your microwave as a chaser.  Then set your kitchen time on “5 minutes” to let it all settle in and work its magic.  But wait, you’re not done yet.  Boil a tea kettle full of water, and then pour that down the drain for good measure.  If all that doesn’t work, repeating the process one or two more times usually will.
2. Let nature take over.  Ever try using baking soda and salt in combination?  Very few people have, and yet together they work even more effectively than baking soda and vinegar.   Here’s all you need to do, provided you’re not in a hurry:  pour 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of table salt down the drain, and then let it sit for several hours.  Overnight is a good time to try this method or before you go to work, etc.  When you wake up or get home, flush the drain with at least two cups of boiling hot water.
3. Plunge it.  If you haven’t already, go out and buy yourself a dedicated kitchen sink and drain plunger.  Unlike the toilet bowl models, it has a short handle and a flat rubber suction cup to cover the drain completely.  And then do your thing:  several vigorous pumps at a time.  If it’s not working, pour a tea kettle full of hot water down the drain and try again.  Just be careful not to let the boiling water splash back on your skin.
4. Bio-Clean the Great.  We’re not saying that chemical drain cleaners don’t work.  But organic drain cleaning liquids like Bio-Clean work better.  They also won’t harm either your pipes or the environment.  You can’t purchase Bio-Clean in a retail store, but you can from us.  And trust us:  once you use Bio-Clean once, you’ll never use that other stuff again.

Feeling a little calmer now?  We hope so.  Then again, the time still may come when you just can’t go it alone.  That’s the time to call Your 1 Plumber.  We’ll respond quickly, take care of business, and have your kitchen or garbage disposal drain cleaned and cleared just as quickly as we can.  Promise!