How to Unclog Sinks & Drains, Naturally

Keeping your sinks and drains clean is good to avoid hefty plumbing fees, and also helps to prevent fatbergs in sewers (and also prevents garden floods). This sink protector mat is ideal to catch food debris

London’s Thames Water deals with around 85,000 sewer blockages each year (all due to wet wipes and people pouring cooking fat down their drain. Read about alternatives to disposable wet wipes.

A Sink Protector (to catch food debris)

This sink protector mat is ideal to catch food debris, to prevent food clogging up drains, and leaving you with a hefty plumber’s bill. It can also stop oily and greasy food going down the drain, which can create so-called fatbergs in our ancient sewers. And it will keep you sweet with your neighbours (many garden floods are caused by someone’s blocked drain!)

Also good to protect glassware when washing up, it features a removable plug for drainage, and grooves to help channel water away. The non-slip feet also provide better drainage, and it’s also elegant and easy to clean.

Understanding Clogs and Their Causes

When food particles, hair, and soap accumulate, they form a sticky mass that traps other debris. Think about it: every time you rinse a plate, wash your hair, or use soap, tiny bits become part of the problem. Here’s a closer look at how these elements contribute to clogs:

Food Particles: Leftover bits from meals can gather in your sink. Over time, they break down and stick to the pipe walls, making the opening narrower.
Hair: Whether it’s from brushing or showering, hair tends to tangle and combine with soap and grime. This combination creates a clump that lodges itself in the drain.
Soap Residue: Many soaps contain fats and oils. When they mix with other substances in the drain, they can solidify and lead to blockages. Another culprit is cream liqueurs (like Baileys).

Soda Crystals (wear protective gloves, can cause eye irritation) are good. To unblock pipes, pour a mug of soda crystals down the plughole. Flush through with hot water.

A Natural Drain Cleaner (in paper bags)

Planet Detox Sodium Carbonate is a biodegradable powder with tea tree oil, to naturally clean sinks and drains, and can also be used to clean washing machines. Alkali dissolves grease and fats, which help prevent blocked drains (which can cause hefty plumbing bills, garden floods and sewage fatbergs).

This powder is diluted with water. Never pour neat essential oils down drains, they can harm aquatic life. Do not use sodium carbonate on aluminium or lacquered surfaces.

We do not recommend using this outside, as tea tree oil can be harmful for some wildlife. To remove moss and algae, use your hands and a garden hoe! Then just use a stiff yard broom to remove and compost.

To clean and clear clogged sinks and drains, just pour 1 litre of boiling water down the sink or drain, then leave it to drain. Then pour 250g of this powder into the plughole. Add another 1/2 litre of boiling water, again leave to drain. Then finally pour another kettle of boiling water. This should clear most blockages. If not, just repeat the process.
You can also pour a cup of this powder (followed by hot water) down sinks and drains each week, to prevent greasy build-up and clogs.
To clean your washing machine, add 500g directly to the drum and run on a hot empty cycle. Don’t worry if the drums fills with black gunge, this is a sign that it’s working! Just repeat the cycle to finish cleaning.
You can also use this powder to remove stubborn burned food and grease from pots and pans. Just add a cup of the powder to the item (not aluminium), add boiling water and leave to work overnight. Drain, rinse and wash as normal.
To remove soap scum from bathroom and kitchen tiles (and to refresh grouting), add two tablespoons of powder to 2 litres of hot water, allow to dissolve and apply with a rough cloth. Rub hard, and use a scourer on the grouting. Rinse with hot water, and dry with a cloth.

Chemical vs Natural Solutions

Chemical Drain Cleaners are fast-acting but can be harsh on pipes, may produce toxic fumes, and are harmful to the environment.
Natural Solutions: are safer for pipes and less harmful to the planet. Ingredients like baking soda and cleaning vinegar and work wonders, though it may take a bit longer to clear stubborn blockages.

Impact of Grease and Oil

When poured down the drain, grease cools and solidifies, sticking to pipe walls.
Over time, it attracts other materials like hair and food particles.
As the mass grows, it restricts water flow, leading to serious clogs.

This cooking oil recycling container is ideal to recycle leftover cooking oil, before you take it to the council depot for recycling.

Cool oil before pouring in containers (scrape & bin grease from pans & tins, and absorb small amounts of oil in newspaper, then bin). Don’t give leftover fatty foods to garden birds or wildfowl (it smears on feathers, affecting waterproofing & insulation).

Suitable for all types of cooking oil (and residual oils in tinned food), the removable filter prevents solids from passing into the container. The wide opening allows for easy filling, and the pouring spout has a drip-catch system for quick easy emptying.

Effective Natural Drain Cleaning Methods

One of the most popular natural methods for unclogging drains is the combination of baking soda and cleaning vinegar. This method is not only easy to follow but also fun to watch as the two ingredients react. Here’s how to do it:

Start by boiling water: Heat up about 2 cups of water and set it aside.
Pour baking soda: Take half a cup of baking soda and pour it directly down the drain.
Add vinegar: Next, pour half a cup of white vinegar over the baking soda. Expect some fizzing action!
Cover the drain: To keep the reaction concentrated, you can place a cloth or a stopper over the drain.
Wait: Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes.
Follow with boiling water: Finally, pour the hot water down the drain to flush away any loosened debris.

The Power of Boiling Water

Boil a kettle of water: Make sure it’s at a rolling boil.
Pour slowly: Carefully pour the boiling water down the drain in stages, allowing it to work for a few seconds in between pours.
Repeat if necessary: If the clog persists, repeat the process until the drain clears.

Salt and Hot Water

Start with salt: Pour half a cup of salt down the drain.
Follow with boiling water: Immediately pour two cups of hot water to activate the salt.
Wait a few minutes: Give it about 15-20 minutes to work on breaking down any clogs.

Anything in excess (esp. essential oils) can harm aquatic life. So use non-scented homemade cleaners (baking soda, cleaning vinegar) or a mild commercial solution, only when needed. If you scent cleaners with essential oils, only use a few drops (never pour neat oils down drains). Then wrap and bin leftovers, or take them to the tip for safe disposal.

Also avoid using essential oils when pregnant/nursing or with allergies and affected medical conditions. Keep all cleaners (even natural ones) away from children and pets, and never mix any cleaners (even natural bleach or vinegar, as it causes chemical reactions).

Using a Sink Plunger

If natural methods haven’t done the trick and you still face a stubborn clog, a sink plunger might be your best friend. It’s a straightforward tool for dislodging blockages. Here’s how to use it effectively:

Fill the sink with water: Ensure there’s enough water to cover the base of the plunger.
Position the plunger: Place the plunger over the drain opening, making sure it seals well.
Push and pull: With force, push down and pull up for about 10-15 seconds.
Check for drainage: Remove the plunger and observe if water drains away.

Preventative Measures to Stop Clogs

Sink stoppers might seem like a small element in your kitchen or bathroom, but they play a crucial role in preventing clogs. By using a stopper, you can keep food scraps, hair, and other debris from slipping down the drain. Here’s how they help:

Barrier against debris: A sink stopper acts like a safety net. It catches everything before it has a chance to head down the drain.
Easy to clean: When you remove the stopper, you can quickly clear out any trapped debris. This prevents build-up that could lead to future clogs.
Versatile options: Many sink stoppers come in various designs, allowing you to match them with your décor while keeping your drains clear.

Millions of drains are clogged each year in England, which causes people to throw toxic bleach down sinks and spend around £80 on basic plumber call-out fees. Clogged drains can also cause stinky toilets and garden floods. Prevention is better than cure!

This silicone suction cup sink stopper stops hair and coffee grounds etc from clogging sinks & blocked drains (silicone is a blend of sand & fossil fuels but it lasts for years, is easy to recycle and doesn’t break down into millions of microplastics, unlike single-use plastic). Just place over the drainage hole and engage the suction cup, for a secure seal. Designed to fit nearly all sinks & tubs, it’s easily cleaned with a cloth and mild soap. The pack includes 3 units.

This silicone bathroom hair catcher fits over any pop-up bath drain protect, using a ring-donut design with slot-based filtering holes to stay in place, even when you take a bath. It also helps stop small objects (like contact lenses & earrings) from getting lost. A great purchase for hotels.

ShowerRing is placed over the shower drain (again a great multi-purchase for hotels, gyms, care homes & hospitals). Made from from stainless steel and silicone, this fits a wide range of drain sizes for walk-in showers and shower stalls. The precision-engineered gaps allow water to flow freely, while trapping unwanted materials (like hair).

Monthly deep clean: Pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down your drains. This combination is natural and efficient for breaking down mild clogs and odours.
Hot water flush: Once a week, run hot water through your drains for a few minutes. This helps to dissolve grease and soap build-up.

Identifying Major Blockages

Persistent Backups: If water consistently backs up, even after cleaning, you might have a severe clog down the line.
Foul Odours: A bad smell coming from pipes can signal decaying substances trapped inside, resulting in a deeper issue.
Gurgling Sounds: Listen closely. If you hear weird gurgling noises when using appliances like the dishwasher or washing machine, it could mean air is trapped in your plumbing.
Slow Drains: If multiple drains in your home are slow, this could indicate a larger blockage in the main sewer line.
Wet Spots: Notice any unexplained wet spots in your yard? It might be a leak from your plumbing system caused by a blockage.

Each of these signs points to problems that go beyond simple clogs. In such cases, it’s important to act quickly before the situation worsens.

A Silicone Shower Drain Stopper

The precision-engineered gaps allow water to flow freely, while trapping unwanted materials (like hair).

Plugged shower drains not only are inconvenient and cost a lot in plumbing bills. But they can result in goo from oily toiletries creating fatbergs, which councils then have to spend time and money breaking down. Blocked drains can even cause garden floods.

Choose Biodegradable Drain Cleaners

Bio-D Drain Cleaner & Maintainer is a tin of 10 fizzy tablets, each one contains millions of good bacteria to digest drain build-up (bad smells, gurgling noise or collecting water). Free from bleach and caustic soda, use one tablet daily for a week, then once a month. Also as commercial liquid drain cleaner.

Another option is to pour a mug of soda crystals with hot water down the sink, and leave to dissolve build-up of grease, soap & shampoo (to remove smells, sub with bicarbonate of soda instead).

Sink Filters (for Hand-Laundry)

Microplastic catchers are usually sold for washing machines, but this sink filter is for hand-washing. To stop synthetic fibres (like nylon and polyester) from breaking off and going into the sea or clogged drains. Just collect the fibres and bin securely.

How to Unplug a Clogged Toilet

For clogged toilets, pour a cup each of baking soda & cleaning vinegar into the pan (it will fizz). After 10 minutes, pour in a kettle of hot water (repeat if not clear).

For bad clogs, Luigi toilet plunger goes right inside the u-bend and is easily cleaned with a little oxygen bleach (then plunge in cold water). To avoid clogged bath drains, avoid bath bombs (leaves lumps of oil), plastic bath ducks (microplastics break off) and thick body oils (like coconut).

When to Call a Plumber

Repeated Blockages: If you find yourself constantly battling clogged sinks and drains, it’s a sign of an underlying issue that requires a professional’s eye.
Signs of Damage: If you notice cracks in walls or ceilings, or your water bill spikes unexpectedly, these can indicate more serious plumbing problems.
Unresponsive Plunging: If your trusty plunger isn’t working, don’t waste time. Professional tools are needed for tough blockages.
Main Line Just Won’t Clear: If your main drain line is clogged and other methods fail, a plumber has the equipment to handle it.
Complex Plumbing Systems: If you’re unsure about the plumbing layout in your home, it’s safer to consult with an expert.

How to Unclog Sinks & Drains, Naturally

A Sink Protector (to catch food debris)

Understanding Clogs and Their Causes