When it takes a couple seconds for your sink to drain or there’s a strange odor coming from the pipes, it might be time to investigate and unclog your drain. Unfortunately, throwing out the visible gunk at the top of the drain is not always enough. Unclogging can require remediation, ranging from easy at-home methods that won’t ruin your pipes to emergency water damage restoration from a professional. Check out these three easy hacks for clearing a clogged drain in your sink:

Drain snake/Wire hanger – A drain snake is a flexible long instrument made of metal with a swivel or spiral at the end that is used to trap hair and other debris. You can typically find drain snakes at your local supermarket or hardware store. You can also try making your own with a wire hanger. Straighten the hanger and create a small hook at the end to collect the blockage. Just make sure to not push any debris further through the drain, as this could worsen the blockage.

Baking soda and vinegar – Here is an at-home solution if you are worried about ruining old pipes: pour 1/3 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of vinegar into the drain. The solution will immediately fizz to the top and it helps break apart the clumps that have built up within your pipes.  Many new cleaning solutions have been known to destroy older pipes, so this is a biodegradable and easy-to-make formula for unclogging drains.

Boiling Water – Don’t have baking soda and vinegar? Boil some water and slowly pour the hot water down the drain while pausing every so often to allow the hot water to work through the buildup.

A little maintenance and care can go a long way when it comes to water pipes. If you notice a leak from pipes that are broken/frozen, contact DKI for emergency water damage restoration services in your area.