A slow, gurgling drain doesn’t mean it’s time to call a plumber. It means it’s time to roll up your sleeves.
Snaking a drain runs $125 to $360 if you hire a plumber, with a national average around $250, according to Forbes Home. Most clogs never need that. They clear with a few basic tools in about 15 minutes.
I’ve spent 35+ years showing people how to hang onto their money. This is one of the most satisfying DIY skills you can have in your back pocket.
Here are seven ways to clear almost any drain yourself — start at the top and work your way down.
1. Start with a kettle of boiling water
The cheapest fix costs nothing but a few minutes. Grease, soap scum, and gunk soften and wash away with heat.
Boil water in a full kettle or pot, then pour it down the drain in two or three stages, waiting a few seconds between pours.
One caution: If you’ve got PVC pipes, use very hot tap water instead of a rolling boil, so you don’t soften the plastic.
2. Grab a $2 hair snake
If it’s a bathroom sink or tub, the clog is almost always hair. And hair laughs at boiling water.
For a couple of bucks at any hardware store, buy a plastic drain-cleaning tool — a long barbed strip sometimes called a Zip-It. Slide it in, twist, and pull. Here’s a three-pack on Amazon for $1.99.
3. Plunge it — the right way
A plunger isn’t just for toilets. It clears sink and tub drains too, if you do it right.
First, if there’s an overflow opening near the top of the sink or tub, stuff a wet rag in it. Otherwise you’re just pushing air out that hole.
Run enough water to cover the plunger cup, then plunge firmly a dozen times. The seal and the suction are what break the clog loose.
Here’s a compact plunger for sinks on Amazon, also for $1.99.
4. Try baking soda and vinegar
Want a gentler approach before you get physical? This old standby works on mild clogs.
Pour about half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then a cup of white vinegar. It’ll foam and fizz — that’s the point. Let it sit 15 minutes. Then flush with hot water.
It won’t touch a serious blockage, but it’s cheap, safe for your pipes, and worth a shot.
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5. Clean out the P-trap
Still stuck? The clog is probably sitting in the P-trap — that U-shaped pipe under the sink. It looks intimidating. It’s a 10-minute job.
Put a bucket underneath to catch the water, then unscrew the two slip nuts by hand or with pliers. The trap comes right off.
Clear out the gunk, rinse it, and screw it back on. Bonus: This is also how you fish out a wedding ring that went down the drain.
6. Snake it with a hand auger
For a clog deeper in the line, a hand auger reaches where nothing else can. You can buy a basic one for less than $5, a fraction of what the plumber charges.
Feed the cable in until you hit the blockage, then crank the handle to chew through it or hook it and pull it out.
Run hot water afterward to wash away the debris.
7. What to skip — and how to stop the next clog
One thing to avoid: chemical drain cleaners. They’re harsh and can damage pipes and finishes. And if they don’t clear the clog, you’re left with a pipe full of caustic liquid — a nasty surprise for whoever opens it up later.
Prevent the next clog instead. Drop a cheap mesh strainer in every drain to catch hair and food.
And never pour grease down the sink. Grease is the single most common cause of drain and sewer blockages, according to the EPA. It cools, hardens, and coats your pipes. Let it solidify and scrape it into the trash instead.
And you know those flushable wipes? They’re often not really suitable for pipes.
Work through this list in order and you’ll clear the vast majority of clogs without paying a soul. The tools cost less than a single service call, and you’ll have them forever.
Clearing a drain is just one repair worth doing yourself. Here are more fixes you can stop paying pros for.
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