Kitchen sinks see a lot of action, and sometimes all of that dish washing and garbage disposing can lead to a clog. In most cases, we reach for some chemicals and hope that will do the trick. Worst-case scenario, we call the plumber. But what if we told you there was a better, more natural solution? What if we told you there were eco-friendly ways to unclog a drain using items right from your kitchen sink cabinets? It’s true. There are many household items that can get kitchen sinks back up and running without the use of harsh chemicals.

 

Here are some eco-friendly ways to unclog a drain using things you probably already have in your kitchen sink cabinets or around the house.

 

1. Try to break up the clog using a wire hanger.

 

This is probably the oldest trick in the book, but your grandparents weren’t joking when they suggested a wire hanger to undo a clog! If something has lodged itself in your drain, breaking it up using a wire hanger could actually work. To attempt this, simply straighten out a wire clothes hanger and work your way down the drain. This might be easier with certain kitchen sink sizes, but if you can get a good position keep pushing the wire down until you feel the drain free up.

 

2. Whip out the plunger to suction the clog.

 

Similarly, a little time with the plunger could free up your pipes. Make sure the plunger completely covers the opening in your sink, otherwise it won’t be as effective and you might get sprayed with some debris.

 

3. Rinse away grease with dish soap and hot water.

 

Grease can buildup in your drain, and if that’s the cause of the clog a good rinse with dish soap and hot water could get things flowing again. Squeeze some dish soap down the drain and then rinse with a pot of boiling hot water.

 

4. Flush your drain with baking soda, vinegar and hot water.  

 

You might remember from science class that mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a volcano-like eruption. You probably won’t be as excited about doing this now (#drainproblems), but if it gets rid of your clog you might jump for joy just like your childhood self.

 

Your first step will be to pour ¾ cup of baking soda down your drain. Then follow with ½ cup of white vinegar. Have your drain cover handy so you can close up the drain right after pouring the vinegar (if you don’t have a cover, a rag will work too). You want that volcano to erupt inside your drain, not all over your kitchen sink. For an extra rinse, follow with a pot of boiling hot water. You can even repeat the steps a second time if necessary. Hopefully the mixture will eat away any clogs and eliminate the need for harsh chemicals.

 

5. Mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to break up any debris.

 

Mix a cup of hydrogen peroxide and a tablespoon of baking soda, and pour the solution down your drain. This will foam similarly as the baking soda and vinegar did, and can help dissolve or break up any debris. 

 

These eco-friendly solutions for unclogging a drain should work on all kitchen sink sizes, and all types of clogs. If none of the natural attempts work, the only cure might be some chemicals or dialing up the plumber. Good luck!

 

 

 At The RTA Store we help make your dream kitchen a reality with RTA (Ready To Assemble) and Pre-Assembled kitchen cabinets, and accessories with the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call and let us make your kitchen dreams come true with the help of our free kitchen design tool!