There
are hundreds of disgusting, thankless household chores, but one of
the first to come to mind is usually a clogged drain. Hair, grease,
and other nasty things can clog even the largest and sturdiest of
bathtubs, leaving you to clean up the mess and hope it doesn't
happen again. If nothing else, you want it to lay off until you find
a better pair of rubber gloves for fishing out that matted, smelly
ball of dog and human hair and engine grease (that got into the drain
for reasons you just don't know). The
good news is that you can prevent most drain clogs without putting
too much time, effort or money into it. This doesn't have to
be a regular part of your household cleaning duties & and you
can take the plumber's hotline off your phone's speed-dial
menu.
You'll
have to start with a clean, clog-free drain. Try pouring boiling
water (carefully) down it; this often loosens clogs and pushes them
past your plumbing. After it's had a little time to work (about
ten minutes should do it), whip out your trusty plunger, which is
probably one of your best friends by now, and start working. You
might have to repeat a couple of times to get the desired result;
if so, be patient and add another pan full of water. Give each attempt
at least half an hour to work, especially if the drain is totally
clogged.
If
this doesn't do anything, wait for the water to cool down and
use one of the numerous unclogging chemicals on the market. Follow
the label directions carefully and be sure to have that plunger
on hand in case you need to help it along. Depending on the severity
of the clog and the product you select, this could work in a few
minutes or a couple of hours.
Another
option involves a plumber's snake. This flexible piece of steel
can push the clog out of your system without chemicals or boiling
water. It's probably going to take more time than the other
solutions, but sometimes it's the best choice. You might think
that calling a plumber is required for this, but it's not:
you can pick up the tool at any hardware store or plumbing supply
house for a few dollars. If you can't make that trip, a neighbor
or friend probably has one sitting in the garage or under the bathroom
sink that you can borrow for an hour or two.
Once
the drain is clear and working properly, you can take steps to prevent
this nightmare from recurring in the future. Don't panic: all
of these tips are easier than unclogging the drain, and most of
them take a fraction of the time.
Use
a hair-catching drain insert. These can be found at discount department
stores, hardware stores, plumbing supply houses, and even online.
For just a couple of dollars, you'll get a plastic or rubber
insert, complete with perforations, that sits in your drain. It
catches most of the hair and other debris that lead to clogs without
interfering with your drainage system. The best part: instead of
fishing out the hair or trying to dissolve it with chemicals, you
can remove and clean the insert. It takes less time and effort,
and you can convince everyone in your household to take turns doing
it.
Don't
use your bathtub for major cleaning projects. It might seem like
a good idea to clean engine parts or other nasty things in the tub,
but it's not. You're washing more grease and other gross
stuff down the drain than it was designed to handle. Use a wash
tub that isn't connected to any drains to prevent clogging
and other unwanted side effects.
Many
people bathe their dogs in the bathtub. This seems like a good idea
simply because you can regulate the water temperature, which usually
can't happen if you take your four-legged friend outside for
his monthly scrubbing. Use the hair-catching insert to keep your
pal's fur from washing down the drain. You can also brush him
out before you start the bath. This will get rid of most loose hair,
which is the first stuff to wash down the drain.
It's
common knowledge that you shouldn't rinse fat or cooking oil
down the kitchen sink, but some think that this wisdom doesn't
apply to the bathtub. The bad news: it most certainly DOES apply.
Scrape congealed grease and cooking oil into the trash can; used
oil that's still in a liquid state should be poured back into
the old container and thrown away. It'll save you the effort
of unclogging the drain, and your tub won't reek of rancid
grease.
Run
boiling water down the drain periodically. This often dissolves
hair and other things that can clog the drain. Be careful when doing
this; the drain can retain the scalding heat for a few moments after
the water runs through it, especially if it has a steel drain cover
or grating.
Look
for cleaning agents that can be rinsed down the drain. There are
products specifically designed to keep pipes clog-free. Check your
hardware store or plumber's supply for information and options.
Sometimes these treatments work even better than the hot water &
but you'll still need to keep as much hair and other gunk out
of the drain as possible.
By
reserving your bathtub and drain system for typical, expected activities
(i.e. showering and bathing) and keeping the hair-flushing to a
minimum, you should enjoy a long, clog-free life. Preventive maintenance
is the key to success in this area, so don't neglect it. The
worst that can happen is you'll be stuck cleaning out the drain
inserts, but that can be solved by threatening to turn off and padlock
the water main if nobody else in the household assists you in this
duty.- Sarah
Borroum
