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How to unclog a drain without chemicals

A plunger, a cheap drain snake and a bucket clear most household clogs. Here's the order to try them, and why boiling water and caustic cleaners aren't the answer.

Updated · 6 min read

  • DifficultyEasy
  • Time15–60 minutes
  • If you need helpPlumber

A slow or clogged drain is usually a plug of hair, soap scum or grease sitting within a foot or two of the drain opening. That's good news. It means you can almost always reach it with a plunger, a simple drain snake or by opening the curved pipe under the sink.

You don't need harsh chemicals. Caustic drain openers can burn skin and eyes, and if they don't work, you're left with a sink full of dangerous liquid. The tools below are cheaper, safer and usually faster.

Most clogs clear in 15 minutes. Cleaning the trap under a sink takes about half an hour.

What you'll need

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Start with hot tap water, not boiling water

For a slow kitchen drain clogged with grease, run the hottest water from your tap for a few minutes. Sometimes that's all it takes.

Skip boiling water. Many homes have white or black plastic drain pipes. The Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association recommends a maximum temperature of 140°F for continuous drainage in PVC drain pipe. Boiling water is 212°F. Hot tap water is the safer choice in sinks, tubs and toilets alike.

Use a plunger the right way

A plunger works by pushing and pulling water, not air. Using the right one and sealing off other openings makes a big difference.

  1. Pick the right plunger. Use a flat cup plunger for sinks and tubs. Use a flange plunger, the kind with a soft sleeve sticking out of the bottom, for toilets.
  2. Remove the stopper. Pull out or unscrew the sink or tub stopper so the plunger sits right on the drain.
  3. Block the overflow. Bathroom sinks and tubs have an overflow hole near the top. Stuff a wet rag in it. On a double kitchen sink, plug the other drain with a stopper or a wet rag held down firmly.
  4. Add water. Run an inch or two of water so the plunger cup is covered.
  5. Plunge firmly. Push down gently at first to push out air, then plunge up and down hard 10 to 15 times without breaking the seal. Pull up sharply at the end.
  6. Check and repeat. If the water drains, run hot tap water for a minute to flush it. If not, try two or three more rounds before moving on.

Pull out hair from bathroom drains

Bathroom sinks, tubs and showers clog with hair more than anything else. A cheap plastic barbed tool often works better than plunging.

  1. Remove the stopper or strainer. Many bathroom sink stoppers lift out or come free when you loosen the nut on the pivot rod under the sink. Tub strainers usually unscrew.
  2. Feed in the tool. Push the barbed strip down the drain, twist it and pull it out slowly.
  3. Repeat until clear. Wipe the gunk into a trash bag, not back down the drain.

Use a drain snake

A hand drain snake is a coil of flexible steel cable in a drum with a crank. It reaches clogs a plunger can't move. For toilets, use a closet auger, which has a protective sleeve so it won't scratch the bowl.

  1. Feed the cable in. Push the end into the drain until you feel resistance. Tighten the lock screw on the drum.
  2. Crank and push. Turn the handle clockwise while pushing gently forward. You'll feel the cable grab or break through the clog.
  3. Pull it back out. Keep cranking as you pull back. Have a bucket and rag ready, because the cable comes out dirty.
  4. Flush it. Run hot tap water for a few minutes to make sure the drain flows freely.

Clean the P-trap under the sink

The P-trap is the U-shaped pipe under a sink. It holds a little water to block sewer gas, and it also catches things that go down the drain. Opening it is easier than it looks.

  1. Set up. Clear out the cabinet, put a bucket under the trap and lay down towels.
  2. Loosen the nuts. Unscrew the two large slip nuts on each end of the U by hand. Use pliers gently if needed, especially on plastic.
  3. Empty and clean. Dump the water and gunk into the bucket. Scrub the inside of the trap with an old brush.
  4. Check beyond it. If the trap was clear, feed your drain snake into the pipe going into the wall.
  5. Reassemble. Make sure the rubber washers are in place, hand-tighten the nuts, and run water to check for drips.

When to call a pro

Stop and call a plumber if:

  • More than one drain is slow or backing up at the same time, or water comes up in a tub or floor drain when you flush or run the washer. That points to a main sewer line clog.
  • You smell sewage that doesn't go away.
  • A chemical drain cleaner is sitting in the pipe.
  • The clog comes back again and again in the same drain.
  • The trap or pipes are old metal and crumbly, or won't come apart without force.

Renters should report clogs to the landlord, especially repeat clogs. Not sure? Try our fix it or call a pro quiz.

Keep it from happening again

  • Put mesh drain catchers in every shower, tub and bathroom sink, and empty them often.
  • Wipe grease from pans into the trash before washing. Never pour fat or oil down the sink.
  • Keep food scraps out of the drain, and see our tips on using a garbage disposal.
  • Keep a plunger and a hand snake on hand. A small clog caught early is a five-minute fix.

Common questions

Is it safe to pour boiling water down the drain?

Not into most modern drains. Many homes have PVC drain pipe, and the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association recommends a maximum of 140°F for continuous drainage. Boiling water is much hotter, so stick with hot tap water.

Does baking soda and vinegar unclog drains?

It's gentle and won't hurt your pipes, but the fizz doesn't have much force. It may help freshen a slow drain. For a real clog, a plunger or drain snake works far better.

Can I plunge a drain after using a chemical drain cleaner?

No. Drain cleaner labels such as Drano's say never to use a plunger during or after use, because the chemical can splash and burn your skin and eyes. Tell your plumber what you used.

Why do all my drains back up at once?

When several drains are slow or backing up together, especially the lowest ones in the house, the clog is likely in the main sewer line. That's a job for a plumber with professional equipment.

Sources

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