There are lots of different ways your home plumbing system can get blocked – and the route to cleaning drains or unblocking your sink or toilet isn’t always the same. If you want to avoid the hassle and effort of a plunger, and aren’t quite ready to call in a plumber, here are a few tips for drains cleaning to help get your water flowing again.
Unblocking a toilet
It’s everyone’s nightmare. A blocked toilet, and every time you flush, the water level rises, threatening to overflow into the room. There isn’t one best way to unblock a toilet, but thankfully, you don’t necessarily have to call a plumber straight away, and there are a few tricks you can try before you have to call in the professionals.
Hot water
It’s basic, but if there’s not a lot of water in the bowl, and the blockage isn’t too severe, pouring a bucket of hot (not boiling) water into the toilet can sometimes be enough to get things moving, especially if you pour a cup of salt in first. This won’t work if you have a high level of dirty water in the bowl already.
Domestos thick bleach
Pour two or three cups of Domestos thick bleach into the bowl and leave it to do its work breaking up clogged elements and killing any germs lurking in your U-bend for about ten minutes. Then flush to clear your blocked toilet drain. Repeat if necessary.
Find out more about how Domestos kills all known germs.
Unblocking a sink
A blocked sink drain is an occasional feature in just about every kitchen or bathroom. Regular rinsing with diluted bleach will help to keep things clear, but if you get to the stage where your sink is blocked or isn’t draining properly, there are a few things you can try.
Washing powder
This is especially useful for getting rid of fatty blockages such as chip fat, which can build up and be difficult to shift. Pour a couple of tablespoons of biological washing powder down the plughole and follow them up with a kettleful of hot (not boiling) water.
Baking soda and vinegar
Clear out any excess water and drop a cup of baking soda down the plughole. Follow that with some vinegar then cover the plughole and allow the baking soda and vinegar to combine in the enclosed space for about 10-15 minutes. Then flush it all out with hot water.
Domestos 15min Sink and Pipe Unblocker
Just the thing when you’ve got a persistent blockage that’s difficult to shift and means your sink isn’t draining as fast as it should. First, clear out any excess water from the sink using a cup or beaker. Then pour in a generous amount of Domestos Sink and Pipe Unblocker and let it get to work on any food scraps, hair, soap scum, fat, or anything else that might be lurking in your pipes. After 15 minutes, flush it out with hot water. It works up to 2x faster than the market leader, so you can send germs packing and get your water running again.
Garden hose
Sometimes the pressure from a garden hose can be enough to clear a blockage in your sink. If your hose will reach, put the end of the hose into the plughole and surround it with cloths or rags to help increase the pressure and stop water from spraying out. Get someone to switch the water on and off in short bursts to create sudden jolts of pressure.
Blocked drains
Shower and bath drains have their own issues with clogged and blocked pipes. It’s never much fun to shower with a couple of inches of lukewarm water around your feet, so if your drain isn’t clearing quickly enough, it’s time to take action.
By hand
No, it’s not fun, but hair, lint and other blockers can often build up just below the plughole. Put on some disposable gloves and if you can, pull out the plug grille and you’ll probably find hair clinging to it. Remove and replace the plug grille.
Hot water
The whole point of a shower is running hot water. But it tends to run gently into the drain without much pressure. Fill a bucket with hot, but not quite boiling water and pour it directly into the drain. The combination of heat and pressure can sometimes be enough to clear minor blockages such as soap scum build-up.
Domestos thick bleach
Blocked shower drains are often caused by a build-up of hair, soap and body crud and the best way to clear a drain is by dissolving them. Siphon off any excess water and pour a cupful or so of thick Domestos bleach into the drain. Leave Domestos to work on germs and whatever else is in your drain for 10-15 minutes before flushing the drain with hot water.
Get more product recommendations and hints & tips to tackle all your bathroom cleaning problems.
Domestos Partnership with UNICEF
Read about our mission to help 100 million people have access to clean and safe sanitation by 2030, and how you can support our partnership with UNICEF.
Domestos safety
Be sure to wear gloves and protect your eyes and skin while you’re using Domestos bleach products – they’re powerful, and deadly to germs! Always make sure that you use Domestos products according to the on-pack instructions.
