Unclog Your Drain in Two Minutes With This 1 Minute Zip-tie Trick. (Think Green...)

Intro: Unclog Your Drain in Two Minutes With This 1 Minute Zip-tie Trick. (Think Green...)

One thing I like to do is to help solve those everyday issues we all go through in life.
Being a handy man myself I'm always the one that is being called to solve issues in the home.
Now for all of you who always calling someone for help (you know who you are!!) with these kinds of problems, you can fix it with very little time. With this said lets get started!

Tub or sink draining slow? Well then CALL THE PLUMBER!!
No no wait!!
Here I will show you how to make a quick and easy tool that will unclog your slow drain in one minute and it will take only about one minute to make and the best part of all it will cost you hardly nothing to make!! With a few simple items you may have in your home you can make this in a snap!
I made this tool and it works great when trying to get the hair and the gunky stuff out of the drain.

It's safe and you don't have to use harsh chemicals which can hurt you and the environment.

If this instructable helped you or you like then Please click to VOTE on the upper right corner!

Follow me if you want to see more of my future Instructables coming soon!! Thanks... Have a great day..=)

STEP 1:

What you will need:

1. Zip-tie (the longest you can find that fit the drain hole)
2. Box cutter or scissors
3. Cutting board or scrap piece of wood
4. A slow drain
5. And remember to always practice safety first so wear safety glasses and protective gloves! 

STEP 2:

With your safety gear on very carefully cut slits onto the pointed end of the zip-tie like you see here on both sides (just a few will do) using a box cutter or blade.
Use a piece of scrap wood or a cutting board to avoid damage to the surface while cutting.
If you don't have a blade then use scissors instead. And that's all you have to do to make the tool!
All this should take you about a minute to do but please don't rush to avoid an accident. =-)

STEP 3:

1. OK, now to be like a pro plumber you have to these quick steps before starting to clean out the drain!!
2. If you want to keep your hands from touching the stuff that comes out of the drain then please wear gloves!!
3. This is probably the most important step before starting!! Loosen or better yet remove your belt before cleaning out the drain. This is a very important if you want to look and feel like a pro plumber!!   LOL

Now insert the end you just cut of the zip-tie into the drain you're having problems with until you reach far enough without letting go of your new homemade tool.  
Pull it out until you remove all the gunky hair and who knows what out of the drain.. O.o
Do this a few times until you feel that you got it all out. 

Run the water to see if drains better and you're done in a zip of time! =)

Now you just saved yourself some money by not calling a plumber! 

Comments

[wobbler]

Thanks for this great idea! I bought a drain cleaner with a end bit and the end fell off in the drain! This is both cheaper and better! I've also thought that on the same lines you could maybe also put another zip tie all the through the end and cut it off to a couple of cms long so it's sticks out like a scraper at right angles (if you get my drift!).

[PitStoP]

That might work with thinned zip ties. Mines has a big head so it probly get stuck inside. lol

[wobbler]

Good point!

[Lovetra]

It worked well for me! I followed up with a 1940's trick, one large pan of BOILING HOT WATER adding some liquid dish washing soap to it just before dumping it down the drain. Washes out whats left of the GUNK!

[PitStoP]

To maintain a clean system do this once a month. Add to the farthest toilet a cup of vinegar into the toilet then get a bucket of hot water and add about a 1/2 cup or more if a large house of baking soda to the hot water stir a bit then pour it down the toilet right away, Do this right before everyone goes to bed and don't flush any toilet or use the water at all till morning. It will foam once the baking soda and vinegar mix and will clean the drain pipes. You can also do this to any drain that is slow. If you have a second floor bathroom do this there too.
This won't hurt your septic tank if you have one.

[Lovetra]

This is great, however, usually the bathtub and bathroom sink's drains are higher than the toilet pee trap. Their pee traps are smaller diameter too.

I do like the sound of your suggestion for once a month though. I also find most of the slow drains begin with the sink and tub. Maintenance is a great start on prevention.

[Lovetra]

Love zip ties!

[jeanniel1]

Brilliant! I bought something like this with a loop handle, but lost it. Funny how that happens. Anyway, THIS is a great idea and so simple. THanks for sharing

[PitStoP]

Yes so simple and quick to make. It will take anyone longer to go buy it in the store than making it. I still have mines under the bathroom sink and just used it a week ago never lost it yet.. If you don't want to loose it you can break off the little lip it has where it clicks to lock the zip tie and then feed the other end in a bit to make a loop then hang it on the plumbing valve or a small hook under the sink or even around the pipe.

I have a few projects I'm working on and I will be adding soon to this wonderful site so follow and be in the lookout. Thanks for reading and have a bless day.

[PitStoP]

Yes, another great way of cleaning it after getting all the hair out. Thanks for the input!

[darklotus]

Great little tool! Now, once you have the worst of the gunk out - may I suggest a fortnightly or monthly maintenance with a couple of teaspoons of baking soda (bicarb) down the drain, then add about a 1/3 cup of white vinegar after it (you'll hear it fizzing).

Leave for about 20minutes then pour some boiling water down the drain.

A lovely effective non toxic drain cleaner that shifts all of the gunk away and keeps your drains smelling fresh and running beautifullly!

[voenie]

Neat. I do have a little sugestion for your zip-tie-plumbing-tool: If you take a second zip-tie you can make a handle out of it by feedind it through the first zip-tie and make a loop. If unclear: look at my pro-drawing.  

[PitStoP]

Yes, I should of mentioned it on the instructions. Another way of doing it is if you're zip-tie is long enough (and you don't have another one) is to first feed it trough the same zip-tie first before cutting the tip. Just don't pull it too hard and get your finger caught in it while using it.. lol
I personally didn't need to because it was pretty tight and would not drop in the tub drain. Thanks for the input and drawing! =)

[jon_chalk]

I did it and voila! It worked perfectly. Now my drain works fast. There must have been at least many years of "gunk" in the drain. Thank you.

[PitStoP]

I'm glad it worked out for you! The good thing is that you can use it over and over. =)

[sunshiine]

I will try this method! Thanks for sharing and have a splendorous day!
sunshiine~

[PitStoP]

You're welcome! It should work to remove the hair inside. The longer the zip tie the better chances you have to reaching it. =)