Having standing water in your drain is not fun. With other drains, you might feel like it’s easier to handle because you have a place to pour down chemicals. With standing water, you might not have a solution. With that in mind, what is the easiest way to clean a drain with standing water?

Start by trying to remove as much of the water as possible with a bucket. After, you can use a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Start with ½ cup of baking soda and follow it with another cup of vinegar.  

You’ll want to give the chemical reaction 15 minutes to process. The combination should break down any grease or oil, typical problems of having a clogged sink. You’ll want to pour boiling water down to finalize this.

If this doesn’t work, we’ve got a few more suggestions for your below:

#1: Use Your Plunger

Either before or after this first attempt, a plunger works well to force a clog through. The forced air pressure down through the piping below might be just enough to get it done.

If you don’t own a plunger, it’s beyond time to get one. Try plunging the drain to see if you get any response. If it works, the water should start draining, but you might have just pushed the clog.

#2: Use A Standard Drain Cleaner

If the plunger manages to do some damage, a standard drain cleaner can work its way downward. Always be sure you have some form of drain cleaner on hand.

If you don’t have one on hand, you’ll have to stick with our other solution, hydrogen peroxide. We’ve got another blog that details the process of using hydrogen peroxide. The process is basically identical to using vinegar.

#3: Use a Drain Snake

A drain snake is a useful tool that applies a bit more direct force than a plunger. Specifically, the smaller surface area can work to force through particularly stubborn parts of a clog.

You can rent drain snakes at a few locations; just be aware of the instructions whenever you use them. Also, you’ll possibly need to remove the drain cover so the snake might fit down there.

In some circles, a snake is known as a plumber’s auger. If this doesn’t work, you have one last option:

#4: Call A Professional Plumber

A professional plumber is literally paid to do these things. As a result, there’s a certain expectation that they are good at what they do.

Professionals will take the issue from your hands, allowing you to put your focus elsewhere. Less stress is almost always a good thing; make sure you hire someone you can trust.

Final Thoughts

Standing water adds a unique challenge to unclogging a drain. The OTC drain cleaners you can buy aren’t quite as effective unless you can plunge or use a plumber’s auger to get through. However, vinegar and baking soda have a unique reaction that also works with air pressure.

If all else fails, contact Reliable Drain and Plumbing to handle all of your drain clog needs.