Chemical cleaners unclog drains, but can hurt the environment and your plumbing.
A clogged sink or bathtub drain can disrupt your life and lead to unpleasant messes. Commercial chemical drain cleaners promise to remove clogs, but contain corrosive chemicals that can cause chemical burns or toxic reactions in both humans and animals. Many chemical drain cleaners also damage plumbing and can disrupt proper function of septic systems and sewers. Before turning to a conventional drain cleaner, consider using a safer, more environmentally friendly method of removing drain clogs. Does this Spark an idea?
Prevention
Preventing a clog spares you the time and effort of cleaning your drain later. The Southwest Michigan Solid Waste Consortium recommends keeping a drain basket in all sinks and tubs to catch hair and other debris. Letting solid material go down your drain greatly increases the chance of a clog. When remodeling, install PVC or copper pipe over galvanized or cast iron, as these pipes clog less easily.
Mechanical Means
Mechanical methods require some effort on your part, but are unlikely to damage your sink or drain. They also won't affect your septic tank, sewer line or the environment. Remove any stopper mechanisms from the drain, stop up all overflow drains, and plunge your sink or bathtub to dislodge the clog. If plunging fails, you may need to use a drain auger, or "snake," a piece of spiral steel fed into the drain to get rid of clogs. These are relatively inexpensive and easy to use, but do not reach more than about 25 feet. Drain augers can also scratch porcelain fixtures.
Homemade Cleaners
For minor clogs, use a homemade cleaner with a reduced environmental impact. These cleaners tend to be inexpensive and are very safe to use. The SMSWC recommends pouring 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait until fizzing sounds stop, then flush the drain with very hot water. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar can remove built-up material, but leaves no harmful residue behind. Homemade cleaners are best used on relatively small clogs, and may not work on severe drain problems.
Enzyme Cleaners
Enzymatic drain cleaners contain bacteria and enzymes that break down built-up material inside your pipes. These cleaners are relatively slow working, and may take several days to treat a clog. They're most commonly used as a maintenance cleaner to prevent problems later on, since they work so slowly. Enzymatic drain cleaners are relatively inexpensive, easy to use and have few safety or environmental concerns. They can cause irritation after prolonged contact with your skin, and may have a short shelf life.
Tags: drain cleaners, baking soda, built-up material, chemical drain, chemical drain cleaners, cleaners relatively, drain clogs
