Drains are the watery trash cans of sinks and showers. They magically whisk away food scraps, soap scum, dirt, and more. But of course, anything that you throw trash into is eventually going to get dirty. Use the following tips to get odor-free and clean drains.

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar

Boil several cups of water. Once it’s boiling, pour it down the drain. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the drain and wait a few minutes. Then pour 1 cup of vinegar and another cup of hot water into the drain. Cover the drain (because of the fizzing!) and wait about 5 minutes. Flush once more with another cup of hot water. Repeat if necessary.

Unclog a Drain

There are several methods for unclogging drains:

• Use a plunger.
• Use a drain stick. This is a flexible wand with small hooks. It will follow the curve of the pipe and collect debris on its small hooks. Pull out the wand and remove the collected gunk.
• Use a drain cleaner. (Avoid using a plunger after using a chemical drain cleaner. Plunging can cause splashing. If drain cleaner splashes onto your skin, it can burn you.)
• If the clog is in a sink, go under the sink and into the pipes to remove the clog.

How to Prevent Drain Clogs

Use a drain stopper to cover the drain, and scrape food scraps into the garbage before placing dishes in the sink. Preventing hair and larger pieces of debris from getting into the drain is the primary way to eliminate clogs.

Clean Drains Make Life Convenient

It’s nice to be able to have gross stuff just swirl away. Make sure your drains keep up the good work by using these tips to prevent clogs and clean your drains when needed.

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