Nothing brings life to an abrupt halt as a clogged sink or drain. It may seem pragmatic to reach for a drain clearing chemical to resolve the issue quickly. The truth is, these harsh chemicals not only damage and deteriorate your plumbing lines and pipes over time, but they also emit some very toxic chemical fumes that can pollute the air that you breathe.
Some gentler, more environmentally-friendly alternatives to this practice include:
Boil some water.
Believe it or not, sometimes all that you need to melt away a stubborn clog is some boiling water. Boil a kettle of water and slowly pour it down your clogged drain. If you do this on a regular basis, your drain is less likely to accumulate the sludge that can later cause a sluggish or clogged drain.
The versatility of vinegar.
Vinegar is so versatile and it can be used for everything from washing windows to unclogging a sink! Slowly pour vinegar down the drain and wait- the acid should help nudge clogs or sludge to free up the drain. Consider keeping a big bottle of vinegar under the sink or in the back of the fridge for these unexpected uses.
Put together a paste.
If vinegar alone doesn't seem to be doing the trick, try adding a hefty amount of baking soda to the mix. These two items together will create a paste that when you add a fine stream of running water, fizzes and slowly melts through whatever is clogging your drain. Keep in mind that this process could take some time, and avoid flushing with water too quickly as this can dilute the mixture prematurely and wash away your paste.
Take the plunge.
Don't forget about unclogging stubborn drains with a plunger. This can be a very effective way to establish pressure that nudges the clog and often frees up the pipe. If you don't have a plunger that fits in your sink trap, cup your hands tightly and completely over the drain with a few inches of water in the sink; lift and lower your hands as you would a plunger, creating pressure and a vacuum that can push the clog along.
Proceed with caution.
If all else fails and you find yourself resorting to chemical solutions, be sure to protect your face and skin from these toxic substances. Wear gloves and shield your face, such as with goggles or glasses, when plunging the sink. Don't ever plunge after adding chemical drain cleaners, as they can be forced up and out of the drain, burning or injuring anyone in the vicinity.
If your drain won't unclog with the methods above, contact a professional like those represented at http://calldoctorfixit.com.