How to make use of a drain snake, in keeping with consultants

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The drain in your bathtub might be one of many areas in your lavatory that you just clear the least. That may very well be as a result of it’s extra prone to disagreeable issues resembling stray hair strands, sweat and cleaning soap scum, which ends up in a bath that takes too lengthy to empty. This makes studying easy methods to snake the drain that rather more essential. And you may’t simply pour something down the drain to scrub it, says John Pirsos, an professional at Petri Plumbing. “Any chemical that has a corrosive aspect in it is rather dangerous to your plumbing. It will eat away at a clog but in addition eat away at your pipes,” he says. “This will trigger them to turn into brittle and result in breaks and leaks.”

I spoke with Pirsos and cleansing consultants to search out the very best merchandise and strategies to unclog a drain and the very best practices to comply with to maintain it that manner.

SKIP AHEAD Best merchandise for snaking a drain | How to make use of a drain snake drain | How to unclog a drain with no snake | Meet our consultants | Why belief NBC Select?

Best merchandise for snaking a tub drain

All of the merchandise beneath are both direct suggestions from our consultants, merchandise from manufacturers we’ve lined earlier than or have no less than a 4-star common score from 500 critiques or extra on Amazon.

Flexisnake Drain Weasel

The Flexisnake Drain Weasel comes advisable by Ryan Knoll, a cleansing professional at Tidy Casa, a house cleansing providers firm and Kadi Dulude, proprietor of cleansing firm Wizard of Homes. It’s a easy however efficient machine, in keeping with Knoll. “It’s received a humorous identify, however this factor is superior and it has an inexpensive value,” he says. “It takes about 2 minutes to scrub a drain totally and does a tremendous job grabbing all of the hair and gunk that clogs up drains.” To use it, insert the 18-inch wand into the drain and spin it round utilizing the deal with — it picks up hair strands and different particles which you’ll simply pull upward to clear up the drain. It comes with a number of disposable wands and works on sinks along with tub drains.

Tubshroom Drain Hair Catcher

What we like

• Easy to put in
• Safe for pipes

Something to notice

• Best for folks with lengthy hair

While a drain snake is extremely useful in clearing up your sink or bathtub drain, it’s essential to forestall hair and different particles from build up within the first place. The Tubshroom is nice at stopping hair strands from getting caught in your drain. The NBC Select employees, together with editors Mili Godio, Lindsay Schneider, Rosalie Sparaco and Caitlin Cusack, all swear by the Tubshroom as a result of it’s so efficient. “It’s one in all my greatest purchases ever. I’ve lengthy, curly hair and I’m continuously shedding,” says Schneider. “This catches hairs I didn’t even know I used to be dropping and wraps them round its base so it doesn’t block my drain. It works fairly immediately and I used to be shocked at how a lot it collects.”

Mighty Mint Drain Maintainer with Enzymes

What we like

• Easy to use
• Safe for pipes

You must watch out when utilizing a liquid durian cleaner to unclog the drain in your bathtub or sink as a result of some chemical compounds are extraordinarily corrosive and may injury pipes and result in leaks, in keeping with Pirsos. But you may nonetheless attempt utilizing a secure plant-based possibility, resembling this enzyme drain maintainer from Mighty Mint, which comes advisable by Knoll. “Once the massive gunk is out of the drain, I’d begin a daily behavior of utilizing an enzyme-based drain cleaner month-to-month to maintain the clogs from coming again,” he says. “Enzymes eat up pores and skin, hair, and any bio mess that will get caught.” You can run heat water into the drain for a minute after which pour a couple of cup of the answer to scrub and deodorize it. Since it’s enzyme-based, it’s secure on pipes, in keeping with the model.

Zaa Bathtub Drain Hair Catcher

What we like

• Easy to put in
• Safe for pipes

Something to notice

• Best for folks with lengthy hair

This silicone bathtub drain hair catcher comes advisable by NBC Select affiliate updates editor Zoe Malin, who loves how properly it really works. “This high hat-shaped catcher is magic. It collects all my lengthy hair, and after I bathe, I take the hair off and throw it within the trash,” she says. “Before I purchased this, my drain was clogged month-to-month, however now, it actually by no means occurs.” Similar to the Tubshroom, it’s straightforward to make use of, since all it’s a must to do is place it over the drain. It’s splendid, particularly for these with lengthy hair that sheds lots, nevertheless it’s additionally helpful if in case you have a canine and bathe them within the tub, too. The better part is that it catches hair, however nonetheless permits water to circulate by way of, so your tub received’t refill with water as you bathe.

How to correctly use a drain snake

1. Start by studying the producer’s directions fastidiously. A drain snake is efficient at cleansing out a tub drain, however they might doubtlessly injury pipes if used improperly. If you’re not sure, ask an expert plumber first earlier than making an attempt it your self.
2. Use the Flexisnake Drain Weasel by fastidiously inserting the 18-inch wand into the drain.
3. The high of the snake has an offset deal with, which helps stop your entire machine from falling or getting caught within the drain. Use one hand to regular the deal with and the opposite to spin the snake whereas it’s within the drain. Be cautious to not spin the deal with too rapidly to keep away from damaging the pipe.
4. Slowly, pull the snake upward to take away hair and different particles from the drain. Repeat if the drain isn’t working correctly. Dispose of the snake when completed and change it with one of many spare wands.

Can a drain snake injury pipes?

A drain snake can doubtlessly injury pipes in the event that they’re used improperly. Be certain to comply with the producer’s instructions fastidiously earlier than utilizing and/or discuss to a plumbing professional in the event you’re not sure. That stated, drain snakes are a lot safer to make use of on pipes than any harsh or corrosive chemical compounds, which might deteriorate the pipes and result in leaks, in keeping with Pirsos. Instead, use an enzyme-based liquid cleaner in the event you want that over a drain snake.

How do you unclog a drain with no snake?

If it’s a must to unclog your bathtub drain however don’t have a drain snake, you may attempt utilizing an enzyme-based cleaner, such because the Mighty Mint Drain Maintainer with Enzymes, to filter out the pipes. If you need a extra fundamental cleansing resolution, attempt utilizing baking soda and distilled white vinegar to unclog it. I’ve tried this mix earlier than in my very own tub and virtually instantly observed the bathtub began to empty sooner after showers.

Meet our consultants

At NBC Select, we work with consultants who’ve specialised data and authority primarily based on related coaching and/or expertise. We additionally take steps to make sure all professional recommendation and proposals are made independently and with out undisclosed monetary conflicts of curiosity.

• John Pirsos is a media relations specialist on the plumbing and HVAC firm Petri Plumbing.

• Ryan Knoll is the founding father of house cleansing providers firm Tidy Casa.

• Kadi Dulude is the founding father of the house cleansing providers firm Wizard of Homes, which has over 100 educated cleansing professionals.

Why belief NBC Select?

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, the place I lead all the house cleansing content material. I’ve written about a wide range of cleansing matters, resembling easy methods to clear grout, easy methods to eliminate mould, the easiest way to scrub hardwood flooring and the very best dishwasher detergent pods. I spoke with house cleansing and plumbing consultants for his or her steering and product suggestions for this story.