12 Smart Solutions For Fixing A Clogged Drain

I'll admit it: as a woman with thick hair, it's usually mine that's clogging up the drain. Which means it's only fair that I am the one that has to clean it out. Which: ew. 

Still, it doesn't have to be a difficult chore, and if you're lucky enough, you may not even need to see the gunk that's built up in that clogged drain. 

1. Clear it up at the first sign of sluggishness.

The grease-cutting power of a high-quality dish detergent may be all you need to prevent a bad clog before it happens. If you notice the drain is getting slow, pour a cup of detergent down the drain, followed by some hot water. It'll break up the greasy gunk before it settles in for the long term. 

2. Plunge it.

Sometimes the clog just needs an extra push to get where it's going. Fill the sink or tub partially with water and plunge the drain until the water begins to drain on its own.

3. Try boiling water.

Before upgrading to chemical solutions, you may find that boiling water on its own is enough to do the job. You don't need a giant kettle carried by a robot to do it, but it certainly would be cool!

4. Add some fizz.

If boiling water isn't quite enough, a fizzy antacid like can help loosen the more stubborn gunk. 

If none of that works, you'll want to try one of the homemade drain cleaners on the next page!

5. The Classic.

Baking Soda and vinegar are the gold standard of science fair projects and for good reason. Use the reaction to your advantage by pouring half a cup of each into your drain. Let them do their work for 15-20 minutes, then just wash away with hot water.

6. The Classic with a Twist!

For a better-smelling option, you can trade out the vinegar for lemon juice. The citric acid will react with the baking soda the same way. 

7. Getting more heavy duty.

For a bit more cleaning oomph, swap the baking soda for Borax and some salt. Mix 1/4 cup each with 1/2 of vinegar and let it work its magic.

So chemistry isn't cutting it and you've got to dig out the clog. Don't resign yourself to buying or renting a plumbing snake. I have some DIY options on the next page.

8. Another use for a wire hanger.

Wire hangers are kind of terrible for your clothes, but great for random hacks around the house. Straighten one out as best you can and bend one end into a hook. Then use it to dig out any hair or other junk that might be in that drain. If hooking it doesn't work, the wire is still handy for breaking up solid blockages, which could make the chemical solutions work better.

9. Hack a zip tie.

Zip or cable ties can make great DIY snakes, too. Use a knife to slice notches along the edge. These will catch the hair as you pull the tie back out of the drain. 

10. Go long with a pop bottle.

If you don't have a zip tie long enough, you can cut a large pop bottle into a long ribbon. Notch the plastic same as with the zip tie and work it down into the drain to catch those hard-to-reach clogs. 

Next up: a brilliant product to prevent a clog from forming, and the last resort.

11. I need this in my life.

Just genius. There's no excuse for me or anyone else to not just clean their own hair out after every shower.

12. Last chance before calling the plumber.

Sometimes you need to come at the clog from another angle. Place a bucket under the sink and loosen the slip nuts to remove the u-bend from the drain. Dig out any clumps and scrub away any gunk with an old toothbrush before putting everything back together.

FYI this is not what I mean by a drain snake.

Nope. Absolutely not. Make sure your drains are unclogged so this guy can slither away.