If you shave your head or other assorted body parts, a clogged sink is a certainty. A home remedy for clogged sink hair is cheaper than buying a chemical product but whether it works or not is another story.
Here are some steps to keep you drains clear before they get clogged and how to open them when they are clogged.
Clean The Drain First
It is what it is. Pulling hair out from your drain isn’t a glamorous job but a plumber’s work probably starts at around $100 just for the visit, so…
Wear rubber gloves if you have to. Keeping your drain clear of hair and soap scum that builds up over time is the easiest way to avoid having to clear a clogged drain. Check your drain every week or so and remove visible hair.
Use The Shower Head
If you have a shower head like the one above with a long extension, take the showerhead off, put the hose into the drain and turn on the water to force out the clog. I’ve found that this usually does the trick for even the worst drain clogs.
Home Remedy For Clogged Sink Hair
Here’s an actual home remedy that is environmentally friendly and doesn’t involve chemicals. I’ve used this one in both the shower and sink drain many times.
I can’t say with 100% honestly that it works as well as a commercial drain cleaner like Drano because it doesn’t. But it may help you keep drains clean and deodorized anyways.
Pour the following into your drain in order:
1/2 cup of baking soda
1/4 of salt (salt has a granular effect to scrape the drain and pipe)
1 cup of vinegar. Do this last. The vinegar combines with the baking soda to foam up and create an effervescent action to loosen hair and soap scum in the drain.
Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and flush with hot water. Repeat if necessary.
Commercial Drainage Product
If this doesn’t work, you might have to buy a commercial chemical product to rinse your drain. Products like Drano have chemicals that warms the blockage and then dissolves it. It can take a few minutes or longer to work depending on how bad the blockage is.
I’ve had cases with standing water in a completely blocked drain where I pour Drano into the sink, let it sit and then suddenly after a period of time, the blockage suddenly clears and the drain empties.
How To Prevent Drain Clogs
1. Keep drains clear using the methods mentioned above.
2. Consider buying a drain strainer like the one above that sits over top of the drain and collects hair and other items but has small holes to allow water to pass through. That way you’re just cleaning the strainer out as it gets full and the hair, etc doesn’t make it to the drain.
3. Consider using a plumbers brush or other nylon brush with soft bristles that fits into a drain. You can free up hair and soap scum accumulating inside the pipe and around the drain area by regularly brushing the drain inside and down the pipe.
Conclusion
- Preventing a clogged drain is easier than cleaning a clogged one. Remove visible hair and debris rather than letting it collect.
- Its normal to lose hair and it will accumulate in your drain especially if you also have body hair.
- Use your showerhead as mentioned above to open a drain with a strong stream of water.
- Consider using the homemade solution above to help unclog and deodorize a slow-moving drain.
- Use a drain strainer over your shower/bath drain and sink drain to collect hair and other objects so they don’t get stuck in the drain and clog it.
- You may have to use a stronger chemical product for slow-moving or clogged drains that don’t resolve.
What have you done to solve a clogged sink? Let us know in the comments below!