Spring Cleaning? Unclog Your Drains Too!

When it comes to spring cleaning, there’s nothing quite like a house that is clean from the inside out. When people are in the midst of scrubbing walls, cleaning out cupboards, and clearing rain gutters, they often forget that like windows and floors, drains need a little TLC too.

If you fail to maintain your drains, unpleasant sulfur or rotten egg-like odors can present themselves, and a pesky clog can pop up at the most inconvenient of times. In fact, it’s a good idea for every homeowner to incorporate drain cleaning in their overall home maintenance routine. It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it!

Avoid Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners

First of all, you want to avoid harsh chemical drain cleaners. They can eat away at older pipes, and they’re often not strong enough to remove a stubborn clog. When the toxic cleaner fails to work, it stays in the drain and becomes hazardous to whoever snakes the drain.

You are better off trading that bottle of blue stuff for a non-toxic mixture of vinegar, hot water, and baking soda. Start by pouring boiling hot water down the drain, but don’t use it on PVC pipes since it can melt or bend them. If the hot water doesn’t work, use your own concoction of baking soda and vinegar.

This mixture works great on grease clogs in the kitchen sink, though it’s ideal to prevent future clogs by disposing of the grease in a glass jar, instead of down the drain.

• Pour half a cup of baking soda into the sink or bathtub drain, followed by a half cup of vinegar, and cover the drain.
• After five minutes, add more vinegar and cover the drain back up.
• Leave for about 30 minutes, then flush with hot water.

When Baking Soda & Vinegar Isn’t Enough

If the baking soda and vinegar aren’t enough, it’s time to try a cup plunger and a snake. Since cup plungers don’t work on the toilets, it’s best to have a cup and toilet plungers on hand. If the plunger doesn’t work, try snaking the drain.

If you don’t want to snake the drain yourself, there’s no shame in calling Excalibur Plumbing. On the upside, using one of our Austin plumbers means you will save time and you can have peace of mind knowing that the job will get done right!

For more information about our top-rated Austin plumbing services, call 512-259-7222 today.