In everyday life, we have all experienced how frustrating a blocked drain can be. Whether in the kitchen, the bathroom or even in the shower, problems with blocked pipes are inevitable at some point. Food scraps, hair and other debris can build up over time and eventually block the flow of water, which can lead to bad odors.
Fortunately, there is a very simple home trick recommended by plumbers to solve this problem effectively, quickly and without damaging the pipes or the environment. It is a mixture of natural ingredients, such as salt and boiling water. With just a few spoonfuls of salt and a little hot water, you will be able to unblock the drains.
The home method for unblocking drains
The first step to unblocking the sink or any other drain is to have the ingredients you will need to hand: table salt and water. It seems like a simple trick, but it is surprisingly effective. The trick is based on the action of salt as a mild abrasive, which helps break down food scraps and dirt that build up over time. This, combined with boiling water, which increases the action of the salt by dissolving and loosening the accumulated particles, means that the blockage is cleared in a few minutes.
Pour five tablespoons of salt directly into the drain. The amount is important for the trick to work properly. Then, heat water in a saucepan until it reaches its boiling point. It is important that the water is hot enough, but it does not need to reach a point of extreme boiling, just enough to help dissolve the salt and loosen the debris stuck to the pipes. Once the water has reached the right temperature, carefully pour the contents of the saucepan directly over the salt in the drain.
When the hot water comes into contact with the salt, the heat helps the debris trapped in the pipes to break down and dissolve, making it easier to clear the blockages. The salt, meanwhile, acts as a mild abrasive on the toughest particles stuck to the pipe walls. In just a few minutes, you will notice that the water starts to flow more easily. For best results, it is advisable to wait about 15 minutes before proceeding to the next step, which is to let hot tap water run for a few minutes.
This last step also helps to eliminate bad odors that may have been generated by the accumulation of waste. In short, this simple and inexpensive trick can restore the functionality of drains almost immediately.
Although the trick with salt and hot water is effective for mild to moderate blockages, if the blockage is more severe, you may need more powerful solutions. In this case, you can use a plumber’s snake, a tool used to manually unblock pipes. This tool is inserted into the drain and can clear the deepest blockages.
Additional tips
Although this home trick is very effective for unblocking drains, it is important to remember that prevention is always the best strategy. Blockages in pipes don’t happen overnight, but build up over time due to the accumulation of food scraps, grease, hair and other debris. Therefore, it is essential to adopt habits that help keep drains in good condition and avoid more serious problems in the future.
One of the most useful tips is to clean the dishes thoroughly before putting them in the sink. Make sure you remove food scraps before rinsing them or leaving them in the sink, as these scraps are one of the main causes of blockages. You can also install a strainer or grid to prevent larger particles from falling into the drain. These small changes in your daily routine can make a big difference to the health of your pipes and the prevention of blockages.
Another important tip is to clean the drains regularly, even if they don’t present any obvious problems. You can do the salt and hot water trick as a preventive measure every so often to prevent waste from building up in the pipes.
As you can see, unblocking drains doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive task. With the homemade salt and hot water trick, you can easily keep your pipes in perfect condition. Also remember to follow some habits, such as cleaning the dishes before putting them in the sink and thus preventing food scraps from reaching the pipes.
