Household Repairs Lavatory drain clogged. Remove stopper and clean it. Fish down drain with a stiff wire hooked at the end. For serious stoppage, unscrew clean-out plug at base of U-trap and fish out obstruction with wire. If trap lacks a clean-out plug, unscrew large nuts at either end of trap and lift it out.

Sink drain clogged. Use chemical drain cleaner. If this doesn't work, pour boiling water mixed with a httle household ammonia into drain. Let stand for a few minutes. Then fill sink with a httle water, place suction cup of a plumber's friend over drain and pump up and down. If this still doesn't work, you'll have to remove trap and clean drain with a long, coiled-spring snake. It's probably easier to call a plumber.

Tub drain clogged. Remove stopper and clean out drain with a hooked wire. If this doesn't work, use boiling water, ammonia, and a plumber's friend as above.

Shower stall drain clogged. Remove cover on drain and clean like a tub drain.

Toilet drain clogged. Place plumber's friend over outlet and pump up and down. If this doesn't work, crank a coiled-spring auger down the drain.




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May 22, 2012