A blocked drain is a common occurrence in most households, and when it occurs it can be quite problematic because it makes it impossible for stagnant water to drain away. The good thing about blocked drains is that there are signs that occur before the drain completely clogs. Examples of such signs include the sink taking a little longer to drain, pooling water on the bathroom floor and some strange odours emanating from the drain. It is essential to take care of a clogged drain before it leads to more severe problems such as burst sewer pipes. Below are some easy fixes that can be carried out to fix the blocked drain and they don't require the services of a plumber.

Tips:

Boiling water. The easiest method of clearing a blocked drain is by pouring hot boiling water into it. The pouring should be done in timed intervals of several seconds so as to give each pour a little bit of time to work. Do not pour the entire jug or kettle of hot water into the drain at once because it will only push the sludge a little further down the pipe.

A bent wire hanger. Seems a bit simple but it is very effective. Straighten a regular coat hanger, and then make a small hook on one end. Push the curved end through the drain cover and start fishing for hairs and other stuff out of the drain. Be careful not to press the slime further down the drain. When a substantial amount of the gunk gets removed from the drain pipe; run hot water down the drain to clear up the blockage completely.

Baking soda and vinegar. Use a measuring cup to mix one-third of a cup of baking soda with one-third of a cup of vinegar. Once the mixture starts to fizz, immediately pour it into the blocked drain. The fizzing reaction should remove the gunk and grime that has built up in the drainage pipe. Now flush hot water down the tube and the drain will be as clear as a whistle.

Manual pipe cleaning. If the sink drain gets blocked, place a bucket underneath the trap (U-shaped tube) located underneath the sink. Remove the slip nuts located at both ends of the pipe using a plumber's wrench. Once removed, clean the pipe by hand. As for the trap, turn it upside down and empty its contents into the bucket. It is advisable to fish around the u-shape for leftover debris using an old toothbrush. When the entire gunk gets removed, rinse the pipe and the trap with water and then place them both back under the sink using the nuts removed earlier.