Unclogging a Drain without Harsh Chemicals

Your drains will clog without proper maintenance. Once your drain takes longer to drain, you’ll know an obstruction is building from improper use. Without quick action, you could face a fast-growing obstruction that ruins your plumbing and requires residential or commercial plumbing services. 

To keep your business running without worry about your restroom functionality, use non-toxic cleaners to wash out your pipes.

Try using the appropriate plunger

As a business owner, you need separate plungers for the sink and toilet. Sink plungers, also called cup plungers, have a round cup and only work on flat drains. Toilet plungers, also called flange plungers, have a fold-out flap surrounded by a larger cup. The flap creates an air-tight seal around the toilet drain. Having both types of plungers prevents cross contamination. 

Though there are other types of plungers, the cup and flange plungers are typically all you need. Generally, if traditional plungers won’t clear your drain, try one of the non-toxic solutions below. And if those don’t work, schedule rooter service. Chances are, you’ll need an auger to break through the clog. 

In the worst case scenario, you’ll have a pipe issue deep within your main sewer line that requires trenchless sewer replacement. Fortunately, that’s not a common case.

Try pouring boiling water

Directly dissolve the obstruction with boiling water. It’s the easiest method to clear your drains without chemicals. Pour boiling water down the problem drain at a slow pace, so you don’t splash yourself. Repeat until the obstruction is dissolved, but if you can’t hit success after several tries, you can use a mix of baking soda and vinegar.

Try pouring a mix of baking soda and vinegar

1. Pour ¼ cup of baking soda into the drain 
2. Pour 1 ¼ cup of white vinegar 
3. Inset a drain stopper and let the mix sit for 20 minutes 
4. Pour boiling water 
5. Repeat a few times if needed
   
   

Try a non-toxic professional drain cleaner overnight

For more powerful drain cleaning, you can purchase over the counter cleaners. Look for enzyme-based cleaners, which are friendlier to the environment than standard chemical cleaners. The Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver consists of biodegradable ingredients and is great for clearing drains without damaging them. You could also try the Earthworm Drain Cleaner & Buildup Remover, Biokleen Bac-Out Drain Cleaner, or ECOS Earth Enzymes Drain Opener.