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How to clean a drain
Key points at a glance:
- Understanding the causes: Hair, soap scum, and a dried-out trap are among the most common causes of clogged or smelly drains.
- Effective and eco-friendly cleaning: Household remedies like hot water, baking soda, and vinegar or citric acid gently and reliably remove buildup.
- Prevention is key: Regular cleaning, removing hair, and using drain screens help prevent clogs and keep drains clear.
Common causes of clogs and odors
Essentially, there are three main causes of clogs and the resulting foul-smelling drains:
1. Hair and skin particles
When showering, washing your hands, or taking care of your skin and face, individual hairs and skin particles naturally come loose. These can clump together and cause the sink or shower drain to clog.
2. Soap, shampoo, and more
Soap, shampoo, and lotions can also cause buildup, which hinders proper drainage and, over time, leads to unpleasant odors.
3. Dried-out siphon
If drains are rarely used, the water seal that normally forms inside them breaks down. This makes it easier for unpleasant odors from the sewer system to travel up through the pipes.
Effective home remedies
There are several effective home remedies you can use to clean your sink or shower drain. In addition to being easy and eco-friendly to use, another advantage is that they work for all types of drains:
Rinse with hot water
Clean a drain with baking soda and vinegar
Washing soda and citric acid
Coke
Tips for physical cleaning
Pouring a cleaning solution down the drain isn't always enough. In such cases, you can clean the drain using physical tools. Here are some options:
Drain snake
Plunger
Clean the siphon manually
Prevention
The best way to prevent stubborn clogs and unpleasant odors is to clean your drains regularly. For example, especially with a walk-in shower, you should clean the drain before any problems arise, as debris can build up very easily in the shower channels. It’s best to remove hair and soap residue immediately after each shower and then rinse with hot water. If possible, depending on the drain, we also recommend using strainers to catch larger debris before it reaches the drain.
By the way: Chemical cleaners should never be used as a preventive measure and should really only be used in exceptional cases, as otherwise they can damage the pipes.
