Have smelly or slow-draining sinks in your house? There are a few simple things you can do to clear out your drains, and you might not even have to resort to nasty chemicals.

• Try to run hot water through drains frequently to kill nasty odors and keep it clear. If you get the start of a clog, treat it quickly with one of these methods before it gets out of hand.
• For kitchen drains, pouring a strong brine (salt water) solution down the drain every so often will help kill odors and keep it free of grease.
• Naturally clear sinks by pouring baking soda down the drain, followed by a quarter cup of vinegar or lemon juice. The fizzing reaction will clear minor build up and freshen.
• Backed-up bathroom drains are probably full of hair (and other gunk). Check your local hardware store’s plumbing section for an inexpensive drain cleaning tool — one is called a “Zip-It“ (pictured). For about $3 or $4 you can purchase one of these long plastic sticks, which will have some barbs or bristles. You simply slide the tool down your drain, and when you pull it up you will remove all the gunk and hair. Do this a few times, and toss the tool (and the gunk)!
• Eco-friendly drain cleaners are available, check online (at retailers such as Drugstore.com or Amazon.com) or at natural stores (like Whole Foods) for different varieties that you can try instead of the toxic chemical cleaners. Use those as a last resort.
• Some like to use bleach for clogs and odors. This can work, but use it at a minimum. Lemon juice or vinegar can be just as effective. If you’re going to use bleach, pour a 1/2 cup down the affected drain, let it sit for five minutes, and then run very hot water for three minutes or so. Do not use bleach if you have a septic system, and never mix bleach and ammonia. (Check cleaning product labels, you may not know what contains ammonia or bleach.)
• Think twice before you rinse something down the drain that could clog: wax, fat that can harden, contact lenses, lotion, hair trimmings, etc. Avoiding clogs before you get them is best.
• For anything other than minor clogs, call a plumber! If one of these techniques doesn’t work, or if you have a major back-up, there might be a bigger problem. You can always ask me for recommendations for a good plumber.

How to Clean a Sink Drain at eHow.com

Other Posts

• March 7, 2007 -- It’s Not About The Rate
• May 26, 2009 -- Hotdogs for Pencils – Oakley Afterhours Charity
• May 13, 2009 -- The 3/50 Project
• August 13, 2008 -- The Economy 2008 Quarter 3 Update