How to clean the pipe in the bathroom at home?

A bath is one of the prerequisites for comfort in our time. But even if you use plumbing as carefully as possible, you still sometimes have to deal with a situation where water does not go down the drain. You should not look for the guilty and find out who was last in the bathroom, you just need to roll up your sleeves and break through the blockage. Today we will tell you how to clean the pipe in the bathroom at home as quickly as possible.

The main causes of blockages

Before proceeding with cleaning the pipe, you need to make sure that this is not a general, but a local blockage. In cases of clogging of the central sewerage of the house, employees of the housing office are engaged in cleaning the pipes.

Important! To make sure that the problem exists only in your apartment, turn on the water in the bathroom and in the kitchen, if the water leaves freely in the kitchen, and there is water in the bathroom, then you need to start cleaning the pipes in the bathroom.

The main causes of blockage include the following factors:

• Fat deposits on the pipes. The best way to fix the problem is to use special chemicals.
• Structural error of the sewer system. Even when laying pipes, craftsmen could place them at the wrong angle. In this case, the cause of the blockage can be completely eliminated only by correcting the design error and redoing the problem area of ​​the sewer pipe.
• The deterioration of the sewer system.
• Neglect of elementary preventive measures and rules for the care of the sewer system.
• Debris entering the drain: animal hair, hair, pieces of rags, threads, etc.

Important! All these reasons lead not only to the fact that the water stops leaving normally, but also to the appearance of an unpleasant odor, which is a consequence of the decomposition of debris stuck in the drain. Therefore, the problem must be solved in any case in order to ensure comfort in the house, especially since you can clean the pipe in the bathroom at home quite quickly if you know how.

How to remove blockage in the bathroom at home?

If the water does not pass well into the drain, urgent measures must be taken to eliminate the blockage. Alternatively, you can use the services of a specialist, but we suggest solving the problem on your own using one of the methods described below.

mechanical method

The most common and easiest way that even a woman can use is to clear the blockage in the bathroom with a plunger. This method can even be used as a preventive measure. The more often you use the plunger, the less likely the blockage problem will appear.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Lubricate the rubber part of the plunger thoroughly with petroleum jelly so that it fits tightly to the drain.
2. Fill the tub with a small amount of water (half the height of the device's rubber bowl).
3. Install the plunger so that the rubber nozzle completely covers the drain hole.
4. Raise and lower the plunger with sharp intensive movements. Air will suddenly enter the drain and push through the resulting blockage.
5. With the last pumping of the plunger, pull it sharply out of the water.
6. Turn on hot water to flush out debris.
7. If the blockage could not be eliminated the first time, repeat the procedure several times.

Important! You can also use a vacuum cleaner to remove the problem if it has a reverse air blowing function and is very powerful. Proceed as follows:

• Cut a rubber ball in half so that one half is smaller than the other. The size of the ball should be larger than the drain hole.
• Fold the halves into each other, and in the middle make a hole equal to the diameter of the vacuum cleaner pipe.
• Insert the vacuum cleaner pipe into the hole and secure the structure with electrical tape or clamps.
• Connect the hose to the outlet of the vacuum cleaner.
• While pressing the homemade plunger, turn on the device. The cleaning process can be compared to the work of a plunger, with the addition of a powerful air stream.

How to break through a blockage in the bathroom with a plumbing cable?

Of course, only small blockages can be removed with a plunger. For more serious problems, if the blockage is far in the pipe or the lump of debris is strongly compressed, you can clean the pipe in the bathroom at home only with a plumbing cable.

The essence of this method is as follows: with the help of a cable, the garbage is pulled out or pushed into a wider highway.

Important! A plumbing cable cannot be used to clean plastic and chrome pipes, as their inner surface can be damaged.

This procedure is carried out in this way:

1. Put gloves on your hands.
2. Disassemble the siphon under the sink.
3. Carefully straighten the end of the cable so that it can hook on debris.
4. Insert the straightened end into the drain hole.
5. With gentle rotational movements, push the debris along the pipe.
6. After the main obstacle is removed, make a few sharp pushes along the pipe.
7. Pull the cable along with the dirt.
8. Pour hot water into the drain hole.

Important! To make it convenient for you to clean the pipe in the bathroom at home, take note of the following nuances:

• A plumbing cable can be purchased at a store, or you can make it yourself: take a piece of a sufficiently flexible metal cable, bend the end and fluff the tip. The cable will move well along the bends of the pipe and will not be able to rest against the knee. For ease of use and grip of the cable, wrap it with something rigid to make a kind of handle.
• For efficiency and convenience, two people work with the cable. The assistant will monitor the cable tension. Push the sharp tip into the drain hole, and the assistant will simultaneously carry out rotational movements. Turn on the water and continue to operate the cable, the water and cable movement inside the pipe will deal with the blockage.

Using tight hose:

1. Put a rubber tight hose on the hot water tap and fasten it securely.
2. Immerse the other end of the hose into the drain hole, as deep as possible.
3. Turn on the water.
4. Make progressive movements with the hose.
5. Hot water pressure and pushing movements will act on the blockage and remove it.
6. Fill the tub full with hot water and open the drain cap abruptly. At the same time, work with a plunger so that the water, due to pressure, will wash away the remnants of the blockage.

Siphon cleaning

The siphon must be cleaned not only during a blockage, but also for the purpose of preventive measures in order to get rid of an unpleasant odor.

Proceed as follows:

1. Lay a soft cloth on the floor under the siphon.
2. Place a basin or bowl.
3. Carefully unscrew the fastener.
4. Remove the flask.
5. Wait until all the water has drained into the prepared container.
6. Clear the siphon of debris.
7. Rinse the siphon with running water.
8. Put the device back in place. Pay attention to the fact that the drain pipe does not rest on the flask, otherwise the water seal may be broken.
9. Without removing the basin, turn on the water and make sure that the tightness is not broken.

Chemical preparations - faithful helpers

You can clean the blockage in the bathroom at home without a plunger, a plumbing cable, but with the help of modern cleaning products. To date, there are a large number of chemicals on sale that can clean sewer pipes. Some contain acids, others are alkalis. But it is necessary to approach the choice of drugs with all responsibility and compliance with safety rules.

Important! A good product will clear the blockage in the bathroom in minutes and without any effort. Chemicals are especially effective in dealing with operational blockages that are of organic origin.

Types of drugs for blockages

Drugs are produced in various forms:

Popular pipe cleaners:

• "Mole" is an effective tool, but it cannot be used for plastic pipes.
• "Mr. Muscle" - suitable for all types of pipes. Available in the form of a gel and foam. Cleans pipes of dirt, kills bacteria and helps to eliminate odor.
• "Pothan" - quickly and without residue dissolves various contaminants. It has a pungent odor, but breaks through the most severe blockages. This is an Israeli product that must be filled in portions of 100 grams. This amount is enough to instantly fix the problem. The main disadvantage is the high price.
• "Tiret" - perfectly copes with its task, eliminates the blockage quickly and efficiently. Has no smell of ammonia.

Mode of application

To break through the blockage in the bathroom, these products must be used according to the instructions:

1. Pour or pour the product into the sewer hole.
2. Leave for a while.
3. Rinse thoroughly with running water.

Important! Use chemicals correctly, as even the safest drugs deform the pipe material with prolonged use. When using clog cleaners, always remember safety precautions: wear rubber gloves, special clothing and goggles. A constant movement of air must be created in the bathroom so as not to inhale harmful fumes.

Helpful Hints:

1. When choosing a chemical directly to remove blockage in the bathroom, opt for a product that can dissolve hair. When choosing a product for the kitchen - for products that can dissolve fat.
2. For plastic pipes, use gel or granular chemicals (the latter is preferable).
3. When buying household chemicals, pay attention to the purpose of the funds. They are of two types:
   • preventive - can cope with a minor blockage;
   • more powerful, able to work even in still water.

The last drugs are needed when the drain hole is completely blocked.

Folk remedies for blockages

Previously, every housewife knew how to clean a sewer pipe with soda and vinegar. Today, the use of folk remedies is resorted to less and less. However, using the tools at hand is very simple:

1. Take baking soda and vinegar in equal amounts (one glass is enough).
2. Pour baking soda down the drain first, then pour in the vinegar.
3. Plug the drain.
4. Leave the ingredients for a chemical reaction for 2-3 hours.
5. Rinse the drain with boiling water.

Important! Baking soda is one of the safest and most effective ways. Soda perfectly removes blockages and does not harm the internal surfaces of pipes. Use baking soda for clogging and for prevention.

Other home remedy options:

1. To remove fat deposits, use lemon. Squeeze a few fresh lemons down the drain and leave for an hour. Fresh lemons can be replaced with lemon juice concentrate.
2. If you do not want to use modern products, then prepare a cleanser from improvised products. You will need: a glass of salt, a glass of soda, ¼ cup of cream of tartar (crystallized sediment during wine production). Mix the ingredients and put in a clean jar. Close the lid tightly. If necessary, use the prepared product as follows: pour ¼ of the contents of the jar into the drain hole, and pour 300 ml of boiling water on top. After a minute, turn on cold water and rinse off the remnants of the product. Carry out a cleansing procedure for prevention weekly.

Blockage Prevention

If you regularly carry out preventive measures, you can avoid many problems.

As measures to prevent blockages, do the following:

1. Install a fine mesh over the drain hole to retain debris.
2. Use a plunger periodically to prevent clogging.
3. Use household chemicals to clean pipes, pouring it periodically into the drain (once every 2-3 months).
4. Try not to bathe animals in the bathtub.

Clean up a blockage as soon as it is discovered so that additional debris does not complicate the procedure. And to remember the problems as little as possible, arrange preventive measures at least once a month and, of course, collect all the garbage before it gets into the bath or sink drain.