CLOG PREVENTION

Just about any clog can be prevented by some general maintenance and some good common sense. Clogs rarely happen mysteriously overnight. They often develop gradually, building up over a number of days (days in which the clog might have been prevented.) Not everything is meant to go down the sink. As a rule, you want to avoid dumping chemicals down the drain such as paint or paint thinners. In the kitchen, raw pasta (which expands magically in water,) onion peals and garlic peals should all go in the trash. Grease is the big one. When cleaning a greasy pot or pan, wipe it out thoroughly first before rinsing. Even a tablespoon of grease (especially when washed down with cold water) can accumulate in the drain and build up over time. A good way to prevent the build-up of grease and gunk is to once or twice a week pour a pan full of boiling water down the sink drain. You can also pour a cup or more of vinegar down the drain beforehand to assist the breakdown.

DIY UNCLOGGING

Fixing a clogged drain is sometimes a step by step process of determining what works. Try these simple techniques:

1. Because the pop-up stopper is prone to stopping hair and gunk from making its way down the drain it might be the source of the problem. The first thing you should do is remove the pop-up stopper (assuming the sink has one.) Pop the 'pop-up' stopper up and turn it counterclockwise to remove it. Clean off anything extraneous.
 
2. When you would otherwise reach for Liquid-Plumr® or Drano ®, washing soda should be first in hand. Although washing soda is alkaline (having a pH of 11,) it isn't very caustic or damaging to pipes and you don't run the risk of inhaling harmful poisonous fumes. However, it's always a good idea to wear gloves as a precaution when using washing soda or any product that is caustic in nature. Washing soda works best when poured down the drain (only a 1/4 cup) and flushed with water once a week as a clog preventative. For existing clogs, pour a whole cup of washing soda down the drain followed by three cups or more of boiling hot water. You might want to repeat this process a few times before moving to another solution; drains can be broken down in steps, so the more you repeat this process, the more likely you are to finally have a 'break through'. If the water is stagnating, a cup of washing soda poured into the water and left to set should eventually work its way through the clog.

Be very careful not to use washing soda if a commercial drain cleaner has been tried beforehand; they will react strongly. Try to avoid using washing soda on fiberglass, aluminum or waxed floors as well. Don't be fooled by the name, washing soda is in fact powerful stuff.

3. You can use Baking soda for all intents and purposes just as you would use washing soda; baking soda after all isn't that much different. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain followed by three or more cups of boiling hot water. The boiling water will change the chemical composition of baking soda, creating an alkaline solution similar to that of washing soda and water. Repeat this process once or twice or as many times as you find necessary. An effective alternative would be to pour a 1/2 cup of salt mixed with a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by three times (at least) the amount of boiling hot water. The baking soda and the salt will mix to create an abrasive, helping to break through the clog. 

4. If you can remember forth grade science class, you might recall this wondrous young mad scientist's experiment - the 'home-made volcano'. Mix together a simple 1 to 4 ratio of vinegar to baking soda in the drain. The vinegar (an acid) will neutralize the baking soda (or washing soda - a base) and as a result, gas will be release amidst some foaming and gurgling. The released gas just might be enough to agitate the clog, helping to break it down. Again, follow this process up with several cups of boiling water. 

5. Not only are enzymes a fantastic agent against clog buildup, they are effective enough to be used in the case of a existing clog as well. The enzyme culture will actually eat away at organic matter, which will in turn allow the enzyme culture to propagate or thrive. A regular, once a month dose of enzyme drain cleaners (such as Bi-O-Kleen's Bac-out) is a good idea; not only will the enzymes help keep your kitchen sink free of buildup, it will also significantly reduce odor from your garbage disposal.   

SOLUTIONS BEYOND SOLUTIONS

If you have tried the above solutions and the clog still isn't budging, it's probably time to try a more mechanical method. This will involve a little elbow grease and some general plumbing know-how.

6. A plunger is a remarkably simple tool which really needs no introduction. Even if you make it this far, chances are a plunger will be the final trick. As a tip before you plunge, for a greater suction fill the sink or bathtub with water until the waterline is overtop the rubber plunger. Next, seal the overflow plate with a rag so that you block all flow of air. This will create a better vacuum and a better suction. Now plunge rapidly several times. When you lift the plunger, hopefully the water will drain. If not, repeat the process and plunge with vigor. 

Do not use the plunger method if you decided to use a commercial drain cleaner beforehand due to the trace possibility of cleaner being present in the water.

7. If the clog survives the plunger stage, the problem goes deeper than you may have thought and it's time to take a first hand look at the interior of the pipe. Before you do anything, turn the water off with the valve located beneath the sink and place an empty bucket below the pipe. You can remove the U-bend pipe without plumbing credentials. Clean out the pipe once removed. 

If all methods fail, and you don't feel comfortable using a water-blaster or snake, it's time to call a plumber or someone with qualified experience.  


Information was provided by the following sites:
care2.com
planetgreen.com
googobits.com
dirtdoctor.com
green-living.com
popularmechanics.com
greenfootsteps.com