You've likely experienced this: water in the sink or shower doesn't drain properly. With a simple trick, even the most stubborn blockages can be cleared.
When a drain is clogged, it usually means hair and other dirt particles are stuck in the pipes and can't be flushed out. More dirt accumulates until the drain is completely blocked and no water flows in the bathroom or kitchen.
To unclog the drain, you can find many products in drugstores or supermarkets. However, most drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that are not only bad for seals and pipes in the long run but also expensive, harmful to health, and the environment. Instead, plumbers use ordinary dish soap. It's an economical alternative to chemical cleaners from the household aisle.
Here's how to do it:
Pour half a bottle of ordinary dish soap directly into the drain.
Place the sink stopper in the drain, or adjust the stopper so that no water can enter the drain for now.
Fill the sink with hot water.
Remove the stopper so all the hot water can flow into the drain. Be careful with the hot water and use a fork or other utensil to safely remove the stopper.
Important: As soon as you have drained the water, the drain will not be immediately cleared. Normally, it takes a few minutes before the blockage dissolves and the water can flow.
Among plumbers, the dish soap method is a simple and widely used trick to quickly unclog a drain. If you see no improvement after several hours, you should call a plumber in any case. They can advise and help accordingly.
To prevent future blockages, we recommend using a sink filter. This way, you prevent hair and other residues from entering the drain.
