This guide will tell you everything you need to know about how drains get blocked, how to reduce blocked drains and what to do about blocked drains when they do happen. It’s based on our experience as home-owners and DIYers, real-world testing and some internet research.
Why drains get blocked
Drains are meant to treat water and water only. If anything else goes into them, they will almost certainly become blocked. Given that it’s almost impossible to ensure that only water goes into drains, you need to focus on managing your drains to minimize blockages and treating them when they do occur, rather than trying to prevent them completely.
The main causes of blocked drains
If you do your best to avoid the common causes of blocked drains, you’ll reduce the number of times you need to unblock them. With that in mind, here’s a list of the most common sources of drain blockages.
Damage to pipes
This may seem an odd one, but you might be surprised how often it’s a problem. Essentially if your pipes are damaged then they can become filled with dirt which ultimately causes a blockage. Also, if there are any trees or bushes in the vicinity, then their roots can get into your pipes making the matter worse. The only cure for this is to sort the damaged piping.
Grease and fat
Maybe you’ve read about fatbergs? If not you can do an internet search on the topic, but be prepared. The results aren’t pretty.
Emptying grease and fat down your drain may be convenient in the short-term but it causes all kinds of problems in the long-term. Put it in the bin instead. A lot of cooking oils, even liquid ones, will solidify if you put them in the fridge for a while, you can then wrap them in a tissue and dispose of them in the usual way. Alternatively, put them in a non-recyclable container (or both). Whatever you do keep them out of your drains.
Similarly, a lot of skin care products contain some form of grease or fat, although it’s unlikely to be marketed as such. If its name includes words like “serum”, “oil”, “cream” or anything suggesting moisturizing qualities, it should be kept well away from your drains. This means that if you put it on with your hands you should wipe your hands clean rather than washing them (or wipe them and then wash them).
Best Drain Unblockers UK
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Personal hygiene products
In the UK, it’s fine to put toilet paper down the toilet. Anything else, however, goes in the bin. Wrap it in something first if you need to, but never put it down your toilet. (Similarly, kitchen roll also goes in the bin).
Hair
You don’t need to shave your head, you don’t even need to wear a shower cap (or bath cap). We do, however, suggest giving your hair a good brush before you get into the bath or shower. We’d also suggest that you invest in a hair trap for your bath and/or shower. In fact, we’d recommend investing in a decent one as it will be much pleasanter to use.
OXO Good Grips Bathtub Drain Protector, Stainless Steel, Grey
- Dimension(cm): 6.9 x 6.9 x 0.63
- Scaled to fit over bathtub drains
- Effectively traps hair while allowing water to drain
- Silicone rim helps keep Drain Protector cover in place
- Rust-proof stainless steel construction
- Dimension(cm): 6.9 x 6.9 x 0.63
- Scaled to fit over bathtub drains
- Effectively traps hair while allowing water to drain
- Silicone rim helps keep Drain Protector cover in place
- Rust-proof stainless steel construction
- Also great for utility sink drains
- The OXO Better Guarantee: If you experience an issue with your OXO product, get in touch with us for a repair or replacement. We’re grateful for the opportunity to learn from your experience, and we’ll make it better.
On a similar note, if you wash any pets in the bath or shower, try to brush them first. We understand that this might not be feasible if they’re covered in mud, but if you can brush them then your drains will appreciate it.
Similarly, do your best to remove pet hair before you put anything in the washing machine. It’s not good for the machine and it’s definitely not good for your drain.
Dirt
Whether or not this one is avoidable depends very much on your lifestyle. If you’re in the habit of having muddy pets jump straight into the bath or shower (or sink) then you might want to start using a towel to get off the worst of the mud before you turn on the water. If you think this is more hassle than it’s worth, then you’ll just have to accept the fact that you’ll be unblocking your drains more often than would otherwise be necessary.
What you can and should avoid, however, is excess food waste landing up in your kitchen sink (or dishwasher). Hopefully, you are already scraping your plates before putting them in for washing. Resist any temptation to empty the likes of tea leaves and coffee granules into the sink and wash them away. Either reuse them or put them in the recycling/bin.
Minerals
If you live in a limescale-area then regularly unblocking your drains is just going to be a fact of life. Even if you don’t, mineral build-up will probably be an issue to some extent.
Soap scum
This is the one most people will find practically unavoidable. Even the highest-quality cleaning products will generally leave some form of residue and, over time, this can block your drains. The good news is that this should be a fairly minor problem.
How to tell if a drain is blocked
The most obvious way to tell if a drain is blocked is that the water won’t drain properly. Unless the drain is completely blocked it will generally drain away eventually, but it will be very slow. Another sign is a bad smell.
How to keep a drain clear
The best way to deal with drain blockages is to stop them from happening in the first place. In case we haven’t made ourselves clear, the best way to do this is to be very careful what gets into them. You can, however, add to this by giving your drains a basic but effective clean once a week.
There are various ways you can do this but our favourite is to put a squirt of washing-up liquid into the plug and then slowly pour boiling water down it. You want at least a litre, more is better. The reason this is good is that the washing up liquid will help to break down grease and fat and then the hot water cleans the pipes and helps to flush everything away.
Pro tip – if you have a ceramic sink, warm it up a bit before you pour the boiling water, otherwise, it will crack.
DIY how to unblock a drain
Let’s say that, despite everything you have a blockage and you’d like to try unblocking it without having to go out and buy chemical cleaners or cleaning tools. You may find you have what you need in your cupboards.
Washing up liquid and water
Start with the easy option, which is often also the best for getting rid of blockages caused by fat and grease. If the drain is blocked, however, you will probably want to increase the amount of washing up liquid you use. Try two squirts instead of one and also double the amount of boiling water.
Baking soda, vinegar and water
This treatment is often recommended on the internet and it can work very well for blockages caused by something other than fat or grease. Start with boiling water, lots of it, then add half a cup (125g) of baking soda/bicarbonate of soda (either will do) and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then chase it with a cup (250ml) of vinegar, preferably white, and let that sit for about 15 minutes. Then chase that with more hot water.
Caustic soda
Wearing gloves and safety goggles, dilute 3 cups (750g) of caustic soda in 3 litres of cold water. If necessary stir with something wooden that you won’t use for cooking. Pour this slowly and carefully down the drain, avoid splashes. Leave for 30 minutes and then flush with 4 litres of boiling water.
Best sink unblocker
The nature of kitchen sinks means that they can often use a little extra care. We’d recommend using a drain stick. These basically use friendly enzymes to break down grease and fat so that they can be carried away with the water instead of blocking up your drains.
There are plenty of options on the market. Our favourite is Ecozone as it does the job and has solid environmental credentials.
Ecozone Enzymatic Drain Sticks – Helps to Prevent Blockages Forming pack of...
- Ecozone Citrus Drain Cleaning Sticks: Use powerful natural bacteria and enzymes to break down almost anything (soap scum and organic matter) that gets stuck in plugholes and pipes, causing blockages
- Ideal for the kitchen, shower trap, sinks and utility: The effective zesty de-odourising drain unblockers help to remove bad smells, and break down grease, fat and food that can accumulate daily
- Ecozone Citrus Drain Cleaning Sticks: Use powerful natural bacteria and enzymes to break down almost anything (soap scum and organic matter) that gets stuck in plugholes and pipes, causing blockages
- Ideal for the kitchen, shower trap, sinks and utility: The effective zesty de-odourising drain unblockers help to remove bad smells, and break down grease, fat and food that can accumulate daily
- Cruelty free, gentle and vegan friendly formula: Approved by PETA and not tested on animals. Contains no animal products. Approved by Allergy UK to be allergy friendly and safe for sensitive skin
- Safe for home septic tanks and aquatic life: Easy to use sticks – simply drop one into the plug hole and let it work its magic. Each extra value packet has 12 sticks for use monthly for one year
- A smart green clean with Ecozone: Created by families for families. Environmentally friendly cleaning products that work, inspired by plant-based, natural ingredients with no nasty hidden chemicals
- Breaks down grease, fat and food which cause blockages and bad smells.
- Uses powerful natural bacteria and enzymes
- Keeps your drains free flowing and clean smelling
- Each packet of drain sticks contains 12 sticks, enough to help prevent blockages and bad smells for 1 year
- Eco-friendly
Pro tip, sometimes these sticks slip down the piping so you can’t see them. Ignore this. They will continue to work for as long as they are supposed to work then they will dissolve. If you add another stick while the first one is still in the pipe, you may actually create a blockage instead of keeping your drains clear.
If you still need to clear your sink drain, then we’d suggest the Ecozone Kitchen Drain Unblocker as this is formulated for grease and fat which is the usual problem with kitchen drains. It does a very decent job and is about as environmentally-friendly as you can get.
Ecozone | Kitchen Drain Unblocker | 1 x 1l
- Kitchen Drain Unblocker: An effective blockage remover which actively breaks down soap, grease, food waste, toilet paper, hair and organic residue. Use in the bathroom, shower room, utility or toilet
- Anti blockage formula: An enzyme based treatment for blocked drains. Containing specially developed ingredients that slowly eat away through tough blockages, leaving drains flowing freely again
- Kitchen Drain Unblocker: An effective blockage remover which actively breaks down soap, grease, food waste, toilet paper, hair and organic residue. Use in the bathroom, shower room, utility or toilet
- Anti blockage formula: An enzyme based treatment for blocked drains. Containing specially developed ingredients that slowly eat away through tough blockages, leaving drains flowing freely again
- Cruelty free, eco gentle and vegan friendly formula: Approved by PETA and not tested on animals. Contains no animal products. Pet friendly with no harmful fumes or toxic odours. Septic tank safe
- Gentle plug hole unblocker: This non-toxic, non-corrosive formula will clear almost anything which is bocking your pipes, without damaging your home’s plumbing
- A smart green clean with Ecozone: Created by families for families. Environmentally conscious cleaning products that work, inspired by plant-based, natural ingredients with no nasty hidden chemicals
Best liquid drain unblocker
If you’re looking for a liquid drain unblocker specifically for hair, then we’d suggest the HG Hair Unblocker and if you’re looking for an all-round liquid drain unblocker, then we’d suggest the HG Liquid Drain Unblocker for everything except kitchen sinks and the HG Kitchen Drain Unblocker for any situations where you need something more powerful than the Ecozone product we previously recommended.
For the record, we have nothing to do with HG, it’s just they’ve really focused on liquid drain unblockers and, in our opinion, literally have the best on the market.
HG Hair Unblocker 200 ml + 250 ml – First aid for...
- HG hair unblocker is the perfect solution to help unblock your drains with its 2 step formula
- Removing blockages caused by hair
- For quick and effective results
- Ready to use and convenient to apply
- Suitable for all types of drains
- HG hair unblocker is the perfect solution to help unblock your drains with its 2 step formula
- Removing blockages caused by hair
- For quick and effective results
- Ready to use and convenient to apply
- Suitable for all types of drains
HG Liquid Drain Unblocker 1L - Unblocks your drain within 30 minutes
- HG liquid drain cleaner & plug unblocker is ideal for every type of waste pipe and gets to work in under 30 minutes, getting the water flowing freely again
- Unclogs drains in the bathroom and utility, which have hair, soap scum, toilet paper & other blockages
- HG liquid drain cleaner & plug unblocker is ideal for every type of waste pipe and gets to work in under 30 minutes, getting the water flowing freely again
- Unclogs drains in the bathroom and utility, which have hair, soap scum, toilet paper & other blockages
- This liquid drain cleaner works thoroughly and effectively and does not affect plastic pipes
- This drain unblocker liquid is a ready-to-use product, it does not need to be diluted, which means there is less chance of splashing
- package may vary
HG Kitchen Drain Unblocker 1L – a Natural Kitchen Drain unblocker which...
- HG Drain Unblocker for kitchen sinks: A fast acting drain unblocker and kitchen sink cleaner. Clears the pipes quickly and easily; ideal for persistent blockages caused by fat, oil and food remnants
- Eco conscious formula: The kitchen sink unblocker is made using natural ingredients, including enzymes and microbes, making this cleaner biodegradable and safe for any kitchen drain or septic tank
- HG Drain Unblocker for kitchen sinks: A fast acting drain unblocker and kitchen sink cleaner. Clears the pipes quickly and easily; ideal for persistent blockages caused by fat, oil and food remnants
- Eco conscious formula: The kitchen sink unblocker is made using natural ingredients, including enzymes and microbes, making this cleaner biodegradable and safe for any kitchen drain or septic tank
- Quick and easy plughole unblocker: High strength blockage remover gel which gets to work eating away at the blockage. Try this first before calling a plumber! Gentle on sinks, pipes and traps
- Easy to use drain cleaner fluid: Can also be used as a sink drain cleaner and de-odouriser. Enhances the bacteria culture of septic tanks and has a preventative effect to help avoid future blockages
- Includes: 1 x HG Plughole Unblocker, 1L. Discover the full range of HG professional household cleaning products, with HG Mould Remover, toilet unblocker, shower drain unblocker and all surface cleaner
Best powder drain unblocker
We’ve only found one powder drain unblocker we’d be happy to recommend and that’s Duzzit Drain Away. This stuff is extremely strong so you need to handle it with great care. You also need to be prepared for a very strong-smelling vapour. Do not inhale this. In fact, if you can wear a face mask (plus gloves and goggles).
Duzzit Drain Away - 15 x 40g Sachets
- Duzzit Drain Away
- Drain unblocker.
- 3 x 40g Sachets
- Duzzit Drain Away
- Drain unblocker.
- 3 x 40g Sachets
One packet will generally clear any drain which has been kept reasonably well-maintained. If your drains are in a bad state you may need to use two or even three packets, but that would only be for drains which are in a really bad way.
Best drain unblocker for limescale
If you are in a limescale area then it’s a safe bet that your drains are going to suffer from the effects regardless of how well you treat them. Our favourite drain unblocker for limescale is the Kilrock MEGA-K descale. This really is a mega-cleaner so treat it with respect. Use gloves, safety goggles and a face mask and pay attention to ventilation because it gives off some serious fumes.
Kilrock MEGA-K Descale 1 L, 1L
- Proven reliable Kilrock technology
- Lightweight construction at just 1.06 Kgs
- High performace for the home or tradesman
- Item package quantity: 1
- Proven reliable Kilrock technology
- Lightweight construction at just 1.06 Kgs
- High performace for the home or tradesman
- Item package quantity: 1
For completeness, this product doesn’t always fizz like it says it will, but regardless it does always seem to work. You may not initially notice this, however, since you seem to need to flush with water to finish it off. If you’re using it on a toilet, you may also have to give the bowl a quick brush before you flush, but it will be an easy task because this stuff really is as good as we say.
Best drain unblocker tools
Liquid drain unblockers and powder drain unblockers are generally the most convenient options. Sometimes, however, you’re going to have to get more “hands-on” and get to grips with drain unblocker tools.
Luigi is probably best known for its toilet plunger and we definitely recommend it, but unblocking drains you want their sink and drain plunger. This looks a bit flimsy, but in this case, looks are deceptive. It can really work up some suction power and will deal with a lot of blockages.
Our other recommendation is the Liumy drain-cleaning kit. It’s a 6-piece set of tools designed to slide down your plughole and deal with various kinds of blockages. They’re at the upper end of the DIY price range for these kinds of tools, but they’re still an awful lot more economical than calling a plumber.
Luigi's - The World's Best Toilet Plunger: Big, Bad & Powerful. Clears...
- ✅ , - What makes this different to a traditional plunger is that you are pushing water at the blockage, not just air. The benefit of this is that you don't need to form a seal. So it'll work on all different types of toilet - included low flow, square bottom, elongated and any other fancy toilet you might have.
- ✅ , - What makes this different to a traditional plunger is that you are pushing water at the blockage, not just air. The benefit of this is that you don't need to form a seal. So it'll work on all different types of toilet - included low flow, square bottom, elongated and any other fancy toilet you might have.
- ✅ ' , - The most important aspect of a regular plunger is the fit to the basin. This weird plunger has a narrow end that you point down into the basin before you start pumping, so you the seal doesn't matter for for 100% effectiveness. It's purpose built to unclog your toilet, not like the traditional rubber cup on a stick.
- ✅ - When you've finished your dirty work, add a little bleach to your toilet, then plunge the clean water for a few seconds. The force of the plunger is enough to clear any residue. To store, just remove the handle and it will fit in any small cupboard.
- ✅ - This plunger has a much greater force (8x) than any cup plunger ever produced. Check the feedback out for yourself, it's cleared children's toys, wet wipes, mammoth 'man made' blockages and much, much more.
- ✅ - if it doesn't work for you because your... blockage is too... big... then please get in touch with us, we'll try an alternative product or issue you a full refund. that's the Luigi's Guarantee!
Luigi's Sink and Drain Plunger for Bathrooms, Kitchens, Sinks, Baths and Showers....
- ✅ : Place the large opening over your clogged plug pump it a two times. You'll clear more in 10 seconds than any other type of plunger. Guaranteed.
- ✅ : Slow draining showers and baths are a common problem, the Luigi's plunger fixes it - everytime. Apply over the drain even when your shower tray is full and within a few pumps the cause of the blockage will be removed.
- ✅ : Place the large opening over your clogged plug pump it a two times. You'll clear more in 10 seconds than any other type of plunger. Guaranteed.
- ✅ : Slow draining showers and baths are a common problem, the Luigi's plunger fixes it - everytime. Apply over the drain even when your shower tray is full and within a few pumps the cause of the blockage will be removed.
- ✅ : The power comes from you pressing down on the bellows when it's over the plug, forcing the trapped air down the plughole. This is the same method as a traditional plunger, but with a much greater (8x) volume of air being forced down.
- ✅ : Made with 100% recycled PVC. When you're done just spray it with bleach and run it under the tap/shower.
- ⚠️ : If you're clearing a sink or a bath where there is an overflow, block this with a damp cloth before you start to plunge. This stops the air from escaping and makes the process even quicker and easier.
LIUMY Sink Cleaning Tool, Drain Hair Remover Catcher Kit for Kitchen Sink...
- ➤【A Must Kit For Cleaning Pipe & Sink】 Widely used in a variety of sinks and pipes including kitchens, bathrooms, bathtubs, showers and communal sinks, dredged pipes, drains, sewers and other places clogged often. The LIUMY 6-in-1 Flexible Drain Cleaning Tool Kit contains 1* Stainless Steel Clog Remover Claw with Red Handle + 1 *Rotatable Stainless Steel Clog Remover with Blue Handle + 3*Plastic Drain Snake(2*Orange, 1*Green) + 1* Drain Cleaner Chain with Flower.
- ➤【A Must Kit For Cleaning Pipe & Sink】 Widely used in a variety of sinks and pipes including kitchens, bathrooms, bathtubs, showers and communal sinks, dredged pipes, drains, sewers and other places clogged often. The LIUMY 6-in-1 Flexible Drain Cleaning Tool Kit contains 1* Stainless Steel Clog Remover Claw with Red Handle + 1 *Rotatable Stainless Steel Clog Remover with Blue Handle + 3*Plastic Drain Snake(2*Orange, 1*Green) + 1* Drain Cleaner Chain with Flower.
- ➤【Different Sizes & Performances Meeting Your Needs】 4 Length: 59inch(150cm ), 24inch(61cm), 20.5inch(52cm),17.3inch(44cm).Please measure the length and diameter of your hole and refer to the dimensional data in pictures before purchasing.Make sure size is applicable.LIUMY drain hair cleaner tool set for drain offers three cleaning tools, stainless steel relief tools can capture a solid obstruction, and the plastic snakes tools and cleaner chain hook the hair and debris.
- ➤【Easily& Efficiently Remove Blockages】 Easy to operate, simply stick the drain tool into the hole which you need to clean, turn around for seconds then pull it out. Fit small strainers and pipes, plenty long enough to reach the P-tra and grabs obstructions at P-trap, so it can efficiently removal most clogs or hook the hair.
- ➤【Reusable & Environmentally Friendly】 This sink snake cleaning set is more environmental and less expensive than toxic chemical drain cleaners. In eco-friendly way to declog your slow-moving drains without the use of toxic drain cleaners, better protection for our rivers and marine life environment. Made of high quality environmental stainless steel and plastic, support reuse and ensure there is no breakage and maximum flexibility.
- ➤【100% Satisfaction Solution】 Choose LIUMY Drain Unclogging Tool Kit, you can get the package will include a complete set of tool, serving your housework-helping for a long time. Just contact us to feel free if you have any questions about the product, we will reply to you as soon as possible within 24 hours and promise you a satisfactory solution.
In short
If you are careful about what you put down your drains, then a regular weekly clean should be all they ever need, unless you live in a limescale area. If, however, your drains become blocked then there are plenty of affordable options you can try before you go to the expense of calling a plumber.
Katie is the Editor here at Poshh Living and is a well-respected voice in the world of design and home improvement. Katie has a first-class Hons degree in Journalism and is proud to say that she has written many leading entries in the biggest media outlets including Ideal Home, and Good House Keeping. Lover of the great outdoors and mother of two, Katie is ‘down to earth’, knowledgable and a great asset to the team
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