Plumber’s hack ‘better’ at unblocking drains than vinegar and baking soda | CPT PPP Coverage

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A plumber has shared his top tip for unblocking drains, as he urged people to stay away from ‘natural’ methods like baking soda and vinegar as they ‘do nothing’

You’ve been unblocking your drains the wrong way.

Our drains go through a lot on an average day, whether it’s our kitchen sinks getting clogged with food and grime, or our bathroom drains battling soap suds and loose hairs. When your drain gets blocked, you might feel tempted to reach for the baking soda and vinegar to shift whatever’s causing the clog, but according to one plumber, that’s not always the best solution.

Plumber Justin Cornforth said that using solutions such as baking soda and vinegar is dependent on where the blocked drain is, as for some blockages – especially ones in the bathroom – the common cleaning solution will “do nothing”.

Justin, who is the CEO of Ace Plumbing, explained that you could end up wasting your time with the natural solution because it won’t be at all effective on blockages that are caused by hair. For these types of clogs, you’re much better off “using mechanical methods”, Justin told The Express.

So what is the mechanical method? Well, it involves using a tool known as a drain snake, which Justin said is an “excellent tool for removing clogs” in bathroom drains as it “effectively catches hair, freeing up the drain”. He added: “A drain snake can clear a clog that is deep in the drain without harming the pipes.”

A drain snake is a long piece of coiled metal wire attached to a flexible metal cable. The cable is then attached to a crank, and you turn the crank to rotate the wire and loosen whatever’s blocking your drain. You can buy drain snakes from most hardware shops such as B&Q and Screwfix, but they’re also available online on Amazon, where you can get a two-pack for just £4.99.

You can also buy plastic drain snakes, but Justin urged people to avoid those as cheap plastic can break inside the pipe becoming “a big problem rather than a solution”. He added: “A drain snake made of stainless steel would be a great long-lasting choice.”

If you don’t have a drain snake to hand and you can’t wait for one to be delivered or go out to pick one up, you can use a common household item in a pinch – a wire coat hanger. To use it, just straighten it leaving a small hook on one end. Carefully insert it into the drain and try to fish out any hair, soap or grease buildup.

And when it comes to kitchen drain blockages, Justin would still suggest moving away from vinegar and baking soda, and instead using “enzymatic drain cleaners”. These cleaners are made of natural enzymes and sometimes bacteria that break down organic matter and are formulated to tackle fats, proteins, and starches – which are often found in kitchen sinks.

You can buy a 12-pack of enzyme-activated drain cleaning sticks for £6.95 from Amazon, or you can pick up the product in a liquid drain cleaner for £8.95.

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