Monday, December 26, 2011

Clearing a Clogged Drain Naturally

Ever notice how you'll put up with much more of your own junk/mess/stuff than you care to of other's? I've found this to be true in the area of kids, dogs, homes, habits, you name it, really.  We just tend to overlook and minimize the flaws and failings we possess; but if we see these same things in another...  "Well," we say,"I'd never put up with that!"  Maybe it's just me...

One area where I think this is true is the bathroom.  I know my family has come out of other bathrooms clearly thankful for escape.  "Mom," they whisper in horrified voices, "you just wouldn't believe it."  And yet their own bathroom can suffer neglect for the same amount of time and, well, it just doesn't bother them in quite the same way.  To be fair (and because I am similarly challenged) some of them truly cannot see their surroundings very clearly what with all the steam buildup combined with their lack of vision sans glasses. But we need to assume that other things are building up too.  Like crud.


This evening that agglomeration resulted in a clogged shower/tub drain.  I always take a bit of pride in being able to solve these kinds of dilemmas ourselves, repairing dishwashers, washing machines, blocked pipes and the like.  My youngest seems especially to get a special satisfaction from these challenges too. So while my husband ran out to the store to get a drain cleaner (he did pick out an environmentally friendly one!) I engaged us in a game of beat the clock to try to clear this problem before his return.  Some time back we'd ordered some really helpful little home snakes to help us with our occasional sink issues.  They have worked great, and we employed them to attend to our trouble this time as well.  When that didn't do the trick, I had my daughter try the plunger.  The problem just seemed to get worse.  Water was clearly jumping up and out through the overflow opening.  We had to create a seal in order to ensure the plunger's pressure would go to the source of our blockage.  I didn't have any duct tape, so we used packing tape and sealed it up tightly all the way around.  Now we were in business!  Taking turns, my daughters and I really worked that sucker. The water got smellier and dirtier, but we took that as a sign of progress.  We fished it out to dump in the backyard.  (Occasionally I flushed the toilet as well, thinking that they are somehow connected and this would work in our favor.)  Eventually...., after some sore backs and a bit of sweat... we were rewarded.  Yes, we did it!  The sweet sound of solid suction - the water was twirling down and away! L put on a pot of water to boil and A brought me vinegar and baking soda.  We poured the latter down the drain and once we heard the shrill whistle of the teapot, I brought the boiling hot water upstairs and poured it down as well as a chaser.

After a good tub washing tomorrow, we'll use that drain cleaner my hubbie brought home for good measure. Yeah girls!!!  We did it!!!

Happily shared at Time Warp Wife, Domestically Divine, Works For Me Wednesday, Ramblings of a Christian Mom

9 comments:

  1. This blog is very nice and informative!
    Plumbertotherescue provides expert team of plumbers in Sydney who offers Blocked Drain and unblocks drains within your budget.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi,
    I do agree on that. Its really hard to find a professional plumbers in sydney. And its a big help if you hire someone from a reputable company.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Girl power! :) Your approach to your clogged drain is quite unique! Plumbing problems are dreaded by many because fixing those takes a lot of physical, mental, and even emotional strength. Treating the problem like a game produced a positive atmosphere that helped you solve the issue. Great job, girls!

    Bibi Karpel

    ReplyDelete
  4. You just proved that women can also take on some plumbing tasks. Hurrah to you and your daughters! In relation to using vinegar and baking soda to unclog the drain, did you know that you can also use cola and boiling water to do the job? It is a safe alternative to harsh chemical drain openers, so you may want to try it. =)

    Angela Burnett

    ReplyDelete
  5. Many thanks, I completely agree with what you posted about.

    blocked drains essex

    ReplyDelete
  6. I also use vinegar and baking soda for mild drain clogs. I read somewhere that you can also use a metal plunger and petroleum jelly, but it’s kind of a long and complicated process. There are also chemical cleaners you can buy from home improvement stores. Just always make sure to wear gloves and keep your bathroom door and windows open when using it. If none of these works, you better call in professional plumbing services.

    Jaye Conaway

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  7. True! Clogged drains are some serious problems and to have the blocked drain repaired is bigger challenge when you dont know a good Plumber in the city.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Blocked drain is a problem! and it is always suggested to call for a Plumber for better and mess free solutions!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey thanks for the useful information!
    It is always good if you can repair blocked drain naturally but sometimes it is a very short term relief and in such cases i would suggest calling a Plumber is better.

    ReplyDelete

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