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What to do if Shower or Sink Drain is Clogged

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Category: Maintenance Care

Published 11/13/2017

When it comes to a slow-draining shower or sink, using a few common household items can do wonders.When it comes to a slow-draining shower or sink, using a few common household items can do wonders. Seriously, who would have thought that a 6th grade science project would come back to fix this maintenance headache? Clogged drains for showers and sinks can be sort of a nasty chore, which makes it all the more easier to have someone else fix it. Before you call a plumber, consider taking a few of these steps. You could end up saving time and money. And plus, it can be fun playing chemist with baking soda and vinegar; just make sure to pour them in the right place. Let’s start with the shower draining slowly. In all likelihood, there will be a lot of hair build up in the drain, but could be other particles too. When diagnosing the problem, check if there is a drain trap because the first thing you’ll need to do is remove it using the appropriate screwdriver. Be careful not to drop any screws down the drain. After the trap is removed, there are a few ways to clear out the drain. 1. Take a plastic bag and use it as a glove to take out any hair and gunk. 2. Acquire a metal coat hanger and cut it to create a hook. You can do this by using a wire cutter or scissors. Use the makeshift hook to pull out any gunk. 3. If you do not find anything to pull out, boil a pot of hot water. Pour it down the drain, then pour about a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then, pour about a cup of vinegar down the drain and wait a few minutes for the solution to work. Proceed to pour more hot water in the drain. Once completed, be sure to re-attach the trap over the drain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXSTSqv2QR8 If the sink is draining slowly, wait until all the water is drained before starting this next part. Proceed to pour a pot of hot water down the drain. Once that is completed, put a one cup of baking soda in the opening and let sit for 5 - 10 minutes. Then pour one cup of vinegar. This is where the magic happens. Bubbles will start fizzing from the solution, so wait another 10 minutes for the solution to do its work. Once the fizzing subsides, turn on the water to wash away the solution. Repeat this process if it still takes awhile for water to drain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u0sMRKb0NY&t=107s

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