Unclog Toilets Or Drains With A Laundry Room Staple You Likely Have On Hand

If you find yourself dealing with a clogged sink or toilet and you don't have any drain cleaner on hand, you may already have something in the laundry room that you can use — your laundry detergent. If you have old laundry detergent just lying around the house, now you will have another use for it. It doesn't matter whether you use powder, liquid, or pods—there are ways to use each to help unclog your sink. Of course, there are differences between powder and liquid detergents, and you'll use them both slightly differently for unclogging. Even if you've heard that laundry detergent can clog drains, we're here to let you know that, unless you're using it wrong, like using way more detergent per load than you need, your detergent is actually slicking up your drains.

More than how to use this trick, we're wondering how it works. Just as dish soap is made to remove grease from your dishes, laundry detergent is designed to help remove grime and grease from fabrics. When poured in your sink or toilet, it can help loosen up hair clogs and more. You have to get the grease-fighting fabric detergent directly into your clog for it to work, so avoid letting water in, as water and oil repel each other.

One benefit of removing clogs with laundry detergent, aside from the work, is that you don't need a plunger on hand. For clogged sinks, use laundry detergent much the same way you would a liquid drain remover, but the steps will vary slightly depending on the type of soap you're using. For powdered laundry detergent, ensure the sink is empty, sprinkle half a cup of dry detergent into the drain, and make sure it goes down. Then pour a full cup of hot water down the drain. Let this sit for an hour for light clogs, or overnight for tough ones. Finally, plug the sink and fill it halfway with hot water before unplugging, so the water pressure helps push the partially dissolved clog through the drain. Laundry pods can also help — place the pod in the drain and pour a carafe of boiling water over it to melt it away. It will not only help remove clogs but also make your sink smell fresh.

Use liquid laundry detergent in toilets, sinks, and tubs with standing water. As you would with a drain cleaner, pour a half cup of liquid detergent into the sink over the drain or directly into the toilet. Let the soap sit for 30 minutes, then rinse the drain with hot water or flush the toilet. If your toilet clogs often, you may want to identify the root cause — it could be an issue further down the sewer lines that requires a professional.