Blocked Drain? Skip the Chemicals and Try This First
A slow or blocked drain is one of the most common household nuisances — and also one of the most over-chemicalised. Most drain unblockers contain sodium hydroxide or sulphuric acid, which can damage your pipes over time and harm the environment. Most blockages can be cleared with tools and techniques that are safer, cheaper, and often more effective.
Understanding What's Blocking Your Drain
Kitchen sinks clog with grease and food particles. Bathroom sinks and showers clog almost exclusively with hair and soap scum. Knowing what you're dealing with determines the best approach.
Method 1: The Drain Snake (Best All-Purpose Tool)
A handheld drain snake is a flexible coiled wire that reaches down into the pipe and breaks up or hooks the blockage. Basic plastic hair-catcher snakes cost under £3, metal crank augers £8–15.
Feed the snake down the drain while rotating it. When you feel resistance, work it back and forth to break up the clog, then pull out whatever you've hooked. Run hot water to flush the rest.
Method 2: Boiling Water (For Grease-Based Clogs)
For kitchen sinks with greasy build-up, boiling water alone can work wonders. Pour it slowly in two or three stages, pausing between each to let the water work. Don't use this method on porcelain sinks or PVC pipes — the heat can cause damage.
Method 3: Bicarbonate of Soda and Vinegar
Pour half a cup of bicarbonate of soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain immediately to contain the fizzing reaction inside the pipe. Wait 15–20 minutes, then flush with hot water. This works well for mild clogs and deodorises as it goes.
Method 4: The Plunger
Block the overflow hole with a wet cloth (this forces pressure downward). Use a cup plunger for sinks and a flange plunger for toilets. Plunge firmly 10–15 times, then test the drain.
Method 5: Remove and Clean the P-Trap
If nothing else works, the blockage may be in the U-shaped pipe under your sink. Place a bucket underneath, unscrew the P-trap by hand, empty it, clean it out, and replace it. This is the most hands-on method but almost always solves stubborn kitchen sink clogs.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
A £2 drain strainer over your bath and kitchen drain catches hair and food before it reaches the pipe. For kitchen sinks, never pour cooking fat directly down the drain — let it solidify in a container and bin it instead.