Blocked Drain Solutions: What Works and What Makes It Worse

You know that feeling when the sink refuses to drain and the water just stares back at you? It’s frustrating, messy and always happens when you have better things to do. A blocked drain doesn’t care if you’re late or tired; it just wants attention.

I’ve had my fair share of clogged drains, and I’ve learned what actually helps and what only makes things worse. In this guide, we’ll go through simple ways to fix a blocked drain, common mistakes people make, and a few tips that work best for Perth homes. Let’s get it sorted the easy way.

What (Or Who) Is Causing My Blocked Drain?

First, let’s meet the usual suspects. In Perth homes (and everywhere, really), drains choke on the same culprits day in, day out. Hair, soap scum and toothpaste gunk in showers; grease and food scraps in kitchen sinks; and toilet paper, wipes, cotton buds, and other “non-flushables” in toilets.

Even if a product says “flushable,” don’t trust it. Our pipes are only meant for pee, poo and the tiniest bit of loo roll. Throw anything else down the hole and it’s party time for blockages. For example, one ABC News report warned that during the 2020 toilet-paper shortage, desperate Australians flushed towels, newspaper and wipes, creating million-dollar sewer snarl-ups.

And Brisbane’s utility folks call it a “wet wipe poonami” of clogs. Yikes. The takeaway? Only toilet paper belongs in the loo – bag and bin everything else. Kitchen sinks have their own drama. Melted butter, bacon grease and cooking oils can cool and solidify in pipes. WA’s Water Corporation notes that fats, oils and grease harden in cooler pipes and cause about 30% of all blockages.

In winter this is even worse – pipes chill, fatbergs build faster. (There was even an ABC News story about a “titanic fatberg” of congealed oil and wipes blocking Brisbane’s sewers.) Lesson: scrape pans clean and freeze your cooking oil in a jar for bin day, rather than pouring it down the drain.

Tree roots love a crack in a sewer pipe and will sneak in if they can, but that’s more of an underground surprise than a daily DIY worry. Bottom line: don’t treat sinks or loos like rubbish bins.

Dispose of solids, wipes, paper towels, fats and chemicals properly, and your drains will thank you. As one Brisbane water engineer put it: “We are waste water treaters, not garbage collectors” – so keep the rubbish out of the drain.

DIY Fixes That Do Work (Most of the Time)

So your drain’s clogged – now what? Don’t panic. Often you can tackle the problem yourself with basic tools and tricks. Here are the first-line weapons in your DIY drain-busting arsenal:

• The trusty plunger. If your sink or loo is backing up slowly, grab a good old-fashioned plunger. A solid plunger seal + some rhythmic pumping can push or pull the clog right through. Think of a plunger like a plumber’s first mate – simple, effective, and always ready for action. Place it squarely over the drain, push and pull with force (while keeping that seal), and often the pressure wave will clear the gunk. It’s usually fastest in sinks and toilets. Tip: For sinks, block any overflow holes with a wet cloth so your plunging force isn’t wasted.
• Hot water & dish soap. For kitchen sinks blocked by grease or soap scum, try boiling water first. Carefully pour a kettle of hot (not scalding, to avoid cracking PVC) water down the drain. This can sometimes melt and wash away fat clumps. Follow with a squirt of dish detergent and more hot water to lubricate the pipe. The soap cuts grease and adds slipperiness. It won’t fix tree roots or hair clogs, but it’s worth a shot for a fatty slow drain (just don’t make it worse – more on that below).
• Baking soda + vinegar. This old chemistry set trick is everywhere on the internet. Sprinkle ~½ cup baking soda down the drain, then pour ~½ cup white vinegar. Cover the drain (it will fizz), let it sit 30 minutes, then flush with hot water. The fizz can help loosen minor gunk and fight odors. It’s not magic – don’t expect it to dissolve a hairball – but it’s cheap, non-toxic, and safe for pipes. Think of it as a gentle scrub for your drain. It’s best for maintenance or very minor slowdowns, not a ticket out of a serious clog.
• Manual drain snake (auger) or hanger. If plunging fails, it might be a pesky tangle deeper in the pipe. A skinny drain snake (plumbing auger) is a coil of wire you can feed down into the drain. You crank it through bends until it hooks or breaks up the clog. Hardware stores rent or sell these, but you can also improvise with a straightened wire hanger. Be gentle: catch or tug out hairy clumps or debris. This often works wonders for bathroom clogs. If you fish out something gross, dispose of it (don’t push it further in). Remember to turn off any power tools!
• Enzymatic drain cleaners. Not all cleaners are acid bombs. Enzyme-based solutions (bacteria that eat organic matter) can be okay for maintenance or mild clogs, especially if you’re out of soda-vinegar stock. These live cultures break down food residue and paper over time. Pro tip: Products containing lipase enzymes specifically target grease. They’re gentle on pipes. Follow instructions carefully – usually you pour it in overnight and flush later. They won’t clear a major clog, but they can help keep things flowing between deeper cleanings.
• Catchers and strainers. For prevention (and partial quick fixes), use sink and shower strainers. They catch hair, food bits and debris before they slip into the pipes. Empty them regularly! An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of rescue work down the line.

Quick Comparison: Fixes vs Situations

Method	Best For	Notes / Caveats
Plunger (sink/toilet)	Most common clogs (sink, shower, toilet)	Pros: Fast, no chemicals. Cons: Only helps if seal + pressure.
Hot water & dish soap	Greasy sink clogs	Pros: Cheap, easy. Cons: Won’t fix hair or solid clogs. Use lukewarm or hot, not boiling.
Baking soda + vinegar	Minor slow drains, odors	Pros: Safe, natural. Cons: Often just temporary fizz; may need repeating.
Drain snake / wire hanger	Hair or deep clogs in sink/shower drains	Pros: Direct removal of clogs. Cons: Requires effort; might need patience (wear gloves!).
Enzymatic cleaner	Organic buildup (grease, food, paper)	Pros: Pipe-safe. Cons: Slow acting; not for urgent fixes.
Professional jetting	Tough blockages, tree roots, scale	Pros: Extremely effective. Cons: Expensive; needs plumber.
Professional service	Sewer main clogs, recurring issues	Pros: Costly, but sometimes necessary.

DIY Tricks That Can Backfire – What to Avoid

Alright, before you go full DIY-hero, there are some classic do-not-do mistakes to dodge. These can actually make a clogged drain worse or damage your pipes:

• No caustic chemicals or harsh DIY “recipes.” Forget the myth of pouring bleach, drain cleaner, paint thinner or lye into your pipes. These dangerous chemicals don’t just attack clogs – they attack you and your plumbing. They can burn skin, release toxic fumes, and corrode metal or PVC pipes. (Seriously, according to WA’s Water Corporation, toxic liquids like paints, oils and household chemicals should never go down the drain – take them to a proper waste facility instead.) Home story: I once almost poured a dollar-store “Drain X” down the sink. Thank goodness I read the label which warned of severe burns, so I chickened out and finally called a pro – lesson learned.
• No cold water blitz on hot-pipe clogs. If you’ve used boiling water thinking it’s a cure-all, ease up. An occasional splash of very hot water is okay (to melt grease), but straight-up boiling can warp PVC pipe or seals if used repeatedly. Moderation is key: hot water + dish soap is safer.
• Baking soda overload. Going nuclear with spoonfuls of baking soda and gallons of vinegar might seem “green,” but too much of anything down the drain can just sit there and make a bigger mess. Also, the fizzy reaction is neat to watch, but it doesn’t eat clogs – it mostly cleans the pipe walls. It won’t dissolve a compacted hairball.
• Improper plunging. A common blunder is to plunge with the overflow hole open (in bathtubs or sinks). This wastes force; seal it with a wet cloth instead. And after plunging, don’t dump a sinkful of water all at once – it’s better to plunger multiple times with smaller water amounts for best pressure. Also remember not to merge plungers: use separate ones for kitchen & toilet to avoid cross-contamination.
• Misusing wire tools. If you try a hanger or snake, take care not to poke the pipe walls too hard, especially inside a toilet (don’t scratch the porcelain!). If you use a hand auger down the toilet, follow instructions: sometimes you need to push gently until it catches, then twist. Sudden, forceful jerks can crack older pipes.

If your DIY efforts get stuck (literally) or if you slice through a cable, STOP and call a professional Blocked Drain plumber. It’s better than making a tiny problem a big renovation.

When to Call the Plumber (AKA The Pros to the Rescue)

Sometimes a blocked drain signals it’s time to call in the cavalry. Don’t feel guilty – even I’ve had my fair share of “I should have called sooner” moments. Here’s how you know DIY is out of its depth:

• Full sewage backup or overflow. If waste is coming up out of floor drains, showers, or your toilet (and not clearing with plunging), that’s a serious sewer issue. Perth’s Water Corporation makes it crystal clear: if wastewater is overflowing anywhere on your property, call them (13 13 75 in WA) immediately – it’s a 24/7 emergency line. They’ll likely inspect the main sewer line.
• Multiple drains are slow or clogged. If your shower and sink on the same level are both slow, the blockage might be in the main line, not just that one drain. Or if toilets and sinks are all acting up, that’s beyond a single clog. You’ll need a plumber’s expertise (and maybe a CCTV drain camera) to locate and clear it.
• Recurring clogs. Did that sink get cleared last month only to gurgle again? Persistent repeat blockages often mean hidden issues like intruding tree roots or a broken pipe. A professional can perform a thorough inspection.
• Bad smells or gurgling sounds. Rotten smells or weird noises from drains (like burbling) can mean trapped sewage gas – not something to ignore. Again, call a pro.

When you do call a plumber, having tried the above DIY steps is actually helpful – it tells them where the problem still stands. Water Corp even notes that if it’s an internal blockage (inside your home pipes), you foot the repair bill.

If it’s in the public sewer, they take care of it and even reimburse you for a block location fee. Moral of the story: own your pipe responsibilities (perk up – you might get reimbursed for finding the blockage!).

Prevention: Keep the Clog Monsters Away

Here’s the bright side: once you conquer this clog, you can keep it from coming back. Consistent habits prevent most blockages:

• Trap the hair and big bits. Always use drain catchers in showers, tubs and kitchen sinks. Empty them into the bin regularly. Don’t let that shed dog hair or loose tinfoil sneak into your drains.
• Grease trap or bin it. For kitchens, get an oil/grease container or use old coffee cans. Wipe pans with paper towels (then bin them) before washing. Freeze small bits of solid fat into those canisters and toss them in the rubbish on bin day. Remember the ABC warning: grease plus wet wipes equals mega fatberg. Keep that deadly combo out of your pipes.
• Minimal toilet paper. Be judicious with toilet paper – Aussie homes often flush way more than needed. If your loo paper supply is low, don’t switch to tissues or wipes. Have some spare paper or alternatives (like bidets or showers) ready instead of flushing paper towels. Only flush what your pipes can easily handle – anything else bags up and bins.
• Regular maintenance. Every few months, pour a kettle of hot water (warmed, not scalding) down the sink after lunch. This helps wash away any developing gunk. For showers, a quick once-a-week vinegar rinse can dissolve soap scum (just pour, wait a bit, then wash).
• Check external drains. Rake leaves and debris away from outdoor drainage grates. If you have trees near your house, consider root barriers or get pipes inspected periodically. Roots are silent invaders – best to catch them early.
• Be mindful of chemicals. Never pour paint, solvents, bleach, leftover cleaning chemicals or lawn fertilizer down any drain. Give those to your local hazardous waste drop-off. The Water Corporation warns that even product labels may not fully reveal the dangers of pouring chemicals down the sink – it’s so not worth the pipe-rusting risk. In short: if in doubt, bin it or find a recycling program, rather than the drain.

Conclusion: Keep Calm and Drain On

Battling a blocked drain is annoying, but armed with these tips you can usually vanquish the clog or, at the very least, know when to call the cavalry. The key points: only flush waste and toilet paper (everything else binned), scrape and drain grease away, and plunge or snake before you pour chemicals.

As our WA Water folks say, your sink isn’t a garbage disposal – treat it right. If you keep on top of it with strainers and occasional maintenance, your drains will flow freely most of the year. If you try a home remedy (plunger, baking soda, etc.) and still see trouble, don’t be a hero – pick up the phone.

Finally, share this guide with a mate who lives off bacon and disposable wipes – they’ll thank you when their pipes stop singing that dreaded gurgle. Got a wrenchy rant or a quirky clog story? Drop it in the comments below! The drain-clearing saga stops (or continues) with your choice of actions today.

FAQs About Blocked Drains