How to Clean Your Drains Naturally (and What to Avoid)

Is your sink, bath or shower draining slowly? If something solid is already stuck in the pipe, it’s usually time to call a professional, as there’s little you can do once an object has lodged itself in a drain. But if you’re only seeing the early signs of a slow drain, you may be able to sort it yourself, using gentle household products instead of harsh shop-bought chemicals. Our Stockport drain engineers explain how to clean your drains safely.

Here’s what works, how to keep your drains clean and when it’s time to call us.

A simple, natural way to clean a slow drain

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and white vinegar can help break down small hair clogs and soapy build-up in sinks, baths and showers.

• Use equal amounts of each: half a cup of each for a slow drain, or a full cup of each for a worse one.
• Pour the bicarbonate of soda into the plughole first, then the vinegar. It will fizz.
• Leave it overnight, for at least eight hours, without running any water, so it isn’t diluted or washed through.
• In the morning, run hot (not boiling) water while using a sink plunger.

Avoid pouring boiling water down plastic pipes, as very hot water can soften or warp them. Hot water from the tap is fine.

How to keep your drains clean

• Use a plug sieve in sinks and showers to catch hair and food.
• Only flush toilet paper and bodily waste down the toilet.
• Put fat, oil and grease in the bin, not down the sink. It sets hard in the pipes once it cools.
• Rinse sinks with warm, soapy water once a month.
• Consider a yearly drain flush if your drains have a history of blocking. This is optional.

It’s that simple. No chemicals required.

What not to use

• Wipes of any kind. We don’t recommend putting even “flushable” wipes down the toilet. They don’t break down like toilet paper and are one of the most common causes of blockages we clear.
• Corrosive drain chemicals. Strong acids and caustic cleaners can eat away the seals in pipes and around sinks and basins.
• Homemade tools. Sticks, coat hangers and similar can snap off inside the pipe and make the blockage worse.

When to stop and call a professional

Home remedies only help with minor build-up close to the plughole. Call us if:

• Water is backing up or won’t drain at all
• Several sinks, toilets or showers are slow at the same time
• You hear gurgling from plugholes or the toilet
• There’s a bad smell that keeps coming back
• The outside gully or manhole is overflowing

These usually mean the blockage is further down the pipe, beyond the reach of a plunger. Our drain unblocking service is a fixed £75 + VAT for rodding and plunging, or £150 + VAT where jetting or machines are needed. Fixed prices apply Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Evenings, weekends and bank holidays may cost more, and we’ll tell you the rate before we set off. We also clear blocked toilets. Thinking of hiring drain rods? Read about the dangers of DIY drain rods first.

Need a hand?

We’re a family-run team covering Stockport, Reddish and the surrounding areas, 24/7. Call 07375 521027 or WhatsApp us and we’ll tell you when we can get to you.