Having a clogged drain is more than just an inconvenience—it can be a health hazard. If you have signs that your drain is clogged, you need to act immediately to avoid standing water, bacteria breeding, foul odors, and more.

Wondering about the best way to clean a drain? We’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn how to clean your drain and when you should call a professional plumber.

How to Clean Kitchen Drains

To clean kitchen sink drains, start by using extremely hot water and dish soap. This will hopefully help loosen up the clog. Make sure you use grease-dissolving dish soap.

If the clog didn’t come loose, try a kitchen plumber and add dish soap and hot water again. You can also try a foaming mixture of equal parts vinegar and baking soda in a more natural way than chemical cleaners. This won’t damage the pipes.

Preventing Clogs

Prevent kitchen drain clogs by keeping any grease away from the pipes. Grease goes down the pipes hot but solidifies as it cools, which can lead to clogs. Try putting grease in a jar and throwing it away after it solidifies.

For garbage disposals, always run extra water to make sure all food scraps are down the drain line. Don’t add things like stringy vegetables, eggshells, rice, grains, and other foods that can expand with water. All of these things can create clogs.

Best Way to Clean a Drain in the Bathroom Sink and Tub

One of the biggest causes of bathroom sink clogs is long hair and toothpaste. If you have a clog, fill your tub or sink with hot water and then unplug the sink’s drain. If that doesn’t work use a drain snake or try to physically remove the clog if you can reach it.

Preventing Clogs

You can try to prevent clogs by running hot water after brushing your teeth or taking a shower to make sure the water dissolves the materials in your shampoo or toothpaste. If you have longer hair, buy a drain saver for your tub, so you can just throw it away when it gets full and replace it.

Don’t flush hair down sink drains. Wipe them out when you clean.

How to Clean a Toilet Drain

The only thing other than human waste that should go down toilet drains is toilet paper. Everything else is probably too large. You can try plunging and snaking your toilet if it is clogged, but if that doesn’t work, you should probably call a professional plumber.

Preventing Clogs

The only way to prevent toilet clogs is to make sure you don’t throw anything else down the toilet, including feminine hygiene products, hair, dental floss, cotton swabs, and flushable wipes.

Need a Plumber?

If you’ve tried all the tricks above and are still having problems, it’s best to call a professional plumber. They know the best way to clean a drain and can tackle your problem before it becomes a bigger issue.

Looking for service in Longview, Kilgore, and Marshall, TX?  Alco Air Plumbers can offer you maintenance programs and solve all your draining issues. Using top-notch draining services and the latest technology, Alco Air Plumbers can get your water flowing.

Contact us today to schedule service.