When it comes to unblocking drains, there are plenty of home hacks and tools to try.
Blocked drains are one of those daily irritations that can rapidly escalate into a disaster.
As autumn rolls in and the days grow shorter, your home’s plumbing can start feeling the effects of the season too. Indoors, sinks and drains often bear the brunt of autumn habits such as cooking oils, more cosy baths, and all the extra bits of grease, food scraps, and soap that come with them.
Before you know it, water starts draining slower, and that telltale gurgle or unpleasant smell creeps in.
Blocked drains are never fun, but they’re especially common in autumn when cooler temperatures and thicker oils make buildup happen faster. Whether it’s a sluggish sink, a nasty smell, or pooling water in the shower, most of us often need a swift, safe, and reliable solution.
To discover what does the trick, we consulted seven plumbing and bathroom specialists for their favourite techniques to clear drains.
And whilst they shared numerous different tips, one thing was unanimous: they all suggest beginning with the same straightforward method – boiling water, reports the Express.
1. Boiling water
Every specialist was in agreement: before you grab chemicals or elaborate gadgets, begin with boiling water.
Tipping boiling water down drains is a straightforward yet powerful trick, explains Andy Ellis, shower and bathroom specialist at Vidalux.
“It can help fix drain clogs by melting and loosening any grease or scum that is in the pipes.”
Olivia Young, cleaning specialist at Astonish, offers identical guidance: “Start by pouring a kettle of boiling water down the drain to loosen residue.”
And Jess Thomas, managing director of Drainage Central, suggests doing it in phases: “Fill your kettle with the maximum amount of water that it can hold and boil it.
“Slowly pour the water down the blocked drain in two to three stages, allowing a few seconds between each stage to give the water time to work. This can be repeated if needed, and adding washing-up liquid can help if you think that the blockage is caused by grease.”
A specialist at Plumbworld concurred: “One of the easiest cleaning hacks is to pour boiling water down the drain regularly to help dissolve grease.”
2. Baking soda and vinegar
Six out of seven specialists also advocate for the fizzing combination of baking soda (or bicarbonate) and white vinegar.
“Using a solution of baking soda, vinegar, and water can easily unblock a bathroom sink,” says James Roberts, director of Sanctuary Bathrooms. “Vinegar’s acidic nature enables it to dissolve dirt, grease, grime, and eliminate bacteria, making it an ideal cleaner for your bathroom.”
Andy (Vidalux) concurs: “My go-to hack is to pop in about four tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda, pour over roughly 250ml of white vinegar, let it fizz for five to 10 minutes, then flush it through with more boiling water.”
Olivia (Astonish) advocates the same approach: “Add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda, followed by half a cup of white vinegar, and let it fizz for around 10 minutes before flushing with more boiling water.”
Even Plumbworld supports it: “For more stubborn blockages, a natural mixture of baking soda followed by white vinegar can create a fizzing action that loosens debris.”
However, Jess from Drainage Central begs to differ. She argues: “Leaving the two to sit in a drain for too long can cause them to harden and add to the blockage, and the acidity of vinegar may corrode older, metal pipes.”
Despite this, with six out of seven experts in agreement, it’s clear that this is the plumbers’ favourite home remedy.
3. Prevention
Several professionals emphasised that prevention is just as crucial as unblocking.
“The trick is to keep on top of them before they get bad,” advises Andy from Vidalux. “Once a month, pull out any hair or gunk you can see, then pour boiling water down to clear things through.”
Olivia from Astonish recommends using drain covers in the bathroom: “A simple drain cover can catch hair before it causes problems.”
Plumbworld suggests using strainers in the kitchen: “Regular use of drain strainers is also a great preventive measure to stop hair and food particles entering the pipes.”
4. Tools
If boiling water and baking soda don’t do the trick, manual methods might be your best option.
Aspect’s drainage engineer suggests using a drain snake: “Carefully extract any obstructions you find using a drain snake, but be careful, as using too much pressure with a drain snake can cause damage to plastic pipes.”
Plumbworld adds: “If you need a tool, a manual drain snake or a plunger designed for sinks can help physically remove clogs without harsh chemicals.”
Jess from Drainage Central offers a budget DIY tip: “You can use a wire coat hanger to make a homemade drain snake to attempt to fish out the blockage or dislodge it. Bend the wire of the hanger into a hook, and insert this into the drain to remove clogs.”
5. Be wary of chemical cleaners
While some people reach straight for a bottle of caustic soda, the experts are cautious.
Aspect’s drainage engineer gives a stark warning: “Caustic soda or ‘lye’ (sodium hydroxide) is a type of corrosive unblocker that can eat away at uPVC pipes when used excessively. Unless the crystals fully dissolve and clear the blockage right away, they can harden like cement – creating an additional blockage. You may then need to replace the pipe entirely.”
Plumbworld recommends avoiding harsh chemicals altogether: “Enzyme-based drain cleaners like Bio-Clean or Green Gobbler break down organic matter safely without damaging your pipes. Avoid chemical-heavy cleaners where possible to protect your plumbing and the environment.”
Jess from Drainage Central agrees bleach should be a last resort: “Bleach should be used as a last resort, as it can corrode some pipes.”
6. Other hacks to unblock drains
A few experts suggested alternative home remedies worth a try:
Salt and lemon juice – Salt can act as a mild abrasive, while lemon juice adds acidity and freshness.
- Effervescent tablets – Fizzy indigestion tablets dropped into a drain with vinegar can mimic the bubbling action of baking soda and vinegar.
- Washing powder – Biological washing powder to break down fat and oil, followed by boiling water.
- Vodka or Coca-Cola – Vodka can help with maintenance (to kill bacteria and odours), while Coca-Cola can dislodge dirt if you’ve got nothing else to hand.