In an effort to become friendlier to the environment, many people are looking for alternatives to chemical drain cleaning, as chemicals found in drain cleaning products are often dangerous and hazardous to the environment. Poisonous and corrosives chemicals, like lye and sulfuric acid are the most commonly used products on the market. These chemical make their way out sewers and eventually back into our water supply.

There are natural methods available. Here are a few helpful and natural tips for drain cleaning.

Boil the kettle, or put a pot on the stove. Make sure it reaches the boiling point. Slowly pour the water at down the drain. Do this twice as that this keeps any grease, or debris such as hair, from building up. This is a great weekly maintenance for drain cleaning.

May be you just need for a good drain cleaning is to put a little muscle behind the plunger. The suction created by the plunging action will often release whatever is clogging the drain and solve the problem.

Another tried and true home remedy for drain cleaning is to try pouring a half a cup of baking soda into the drain, then add a cup of lemon juice and allow it to work for a few minutes then slowly pour down some boiling water. The lemon juice will make the baking soda fizz and become an active agent. If you do not have lemon juice, the boiling water makes the baking soda more alkaline and thus more powerful to cut through the clog. This will work as well.

One well known natural drain cleaners is a baking soda and vinegar. First, pour a half cup of baking soda in the sink drain. Then half cup of white vinegar. If you feel you may need a chemical drain cleaner. You should not try this combination. It is not wise to use a commercial cleaner in combination with the baking soda and vinegar as this could possibly cause a chemical reaction.

Baking soda and vinegar is a powerful enough combination on its own. It is capable of cutting through the grease and dissolve hairs that are clogging the drain. Be sure to give that extra boost by pouring a few cups of boiling water down the drain flush out any of the debris that was loosened. If the drain is really clog and is giving you a hard time, try heat up the vinegar before adding it to the drain.

So if you are having problems with a clogged drain, the best drain cleaners are available right in your kitchen. There are also other non-chemical methods such as the use of a plumbers snake. However if you have done your best and still have not corrected the problem, consult a licensed plumber

Drain cleaning is often something that the average person can handle on there own. However, there are times when you will need to call a plumber in to solve the problem.

Solving a drain-cleaning problem that is in need of more is not going to be enough to fix the problem. Is if your home has older galvanized pipes. This can be a huge problem. Galvanized pipes can clog solid and become impossible to clear.

Although you may be able to get the drain clear enough to start running, it will continue to be a problem until you have it changed. In such situations, the best and only remedy is to have the galvanized pipes removed and new pipes installed.

A trained professional is always the way to go in such situation. So know what is required. If you can fix the situation with a simple plunger, then perfect. However, if cleaning the drain is not going to fix the problem call a pro.