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There you are. Right next your sink. It's clogged, you say?. Gross. Wanna get the lye-based goop out to clear that clog? Yep. Me, too. It sure would be the easiest way to do things. We could just pretend the drain-clearing goop dissipates as if by magic somewhere just below the sink. But we both worry that it doesn't. Let's unclog it the eco-friendly way, shall we? Great.
There are a few ways to clear clogs the environmentally conscious way:
The plunger is one example. The plunger might be kind of gross, but it's a sustainable, reusable tool that doesn't put goop in our water supply. It creates suction and forces open the clog. In most cases, this device is your go-to guy when it comes to clearing small clogs. Many clogs are caused by hairs on the stopper. If this is the case, remove the stopper and clean it off.
If the clog is too tough to be broken apart by the plunger and non-toxic elbow grease, you may want to try the old volcano recipe you learned in grade school. Take one-fourth cup baking soda and one cup vinegar and dump this solution over the offending clog. Follow with a pot full of boiling water. Let this stand for 15 minutes. If the drain did not clear, try plunging again. It is possible that the vinegar-baking soda combo loosened it.
If this fails, and it is your sink that is clogged, you can remove the U-bend pipe below your faucet. First, turn off the water. There should be a valve below your sink. Put a bucket below the pipe that you're removing. You don't want to have to clean up what falls out of there. Take off the pipe and clean it out. You can probably compost any gunk you find in there. Most drains have an entry for a snake. You can find them at hardware stores and online for under thirty dollars. If you know how to use a snake, give it a try before hiring a professional.
If all these things fail, call a plumber. At this point, it is doubtful that any liquid drain-clearing agents will do the trick. You'll need professional help.
More on Plumbing:
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Top Green Bathroom Renovation Tips
Hack Your Toilet, Conserve Water
Kill That Clog the Green Way
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