A blocked drain does not necessarily mean reaching straight for a bottle of chemical drain cleaner.

Whether it is a kitchen sink that is draining slowly, a blocked bathroom basin or water pooling in the shower, there are several things you can try first to clear the blockage manually.

The key is understanding what may be causing the blockage and choosing the right method to tackle it.

What causes a blocked drain?

Different drains tend to become blocked for different reasons.

In the kitchen, fats, oils, grease and food residue can gradually build up inside the pipework. In bathrooms, hair, soap residue and other debris are common culprits. If your kitchen sink is the problem, read our guide to the common causes of a blocked kitchen sink and what to do about them.

Before trying to clear the drain, remove anything you can see around the plughole, such as food debris or hair.

1. Remove any visible blockage

Start with the simplest solution.

Remove the plug or drain cover if possible and check for anything that can easily be pulled out. Hair and debris can sometimes collect very close to the drain opening.

Wear gloves and dispose of anything you remove in the bin rather than washing it back down the drain.

If the water now flows freely, you may have solved the problem.

If it is still draining slowly or remains blocked, the obstruction may be further down the pipe.

2. Step up to a more powerful manual solution

If you’ve already tried an ordinary plunger and the blockage won’t budge, it may be time to try something more powerful.

We’ve tested Magic Pump DRAIN alongside other manual drain-clearing tools, and the difference is striking. Its unique sealed design allows it to pump up and hold a full litre of liquid before pushing it down with force.

Don’t just take our word for it. See the difference for yourself in the demonstration below.

How to use Magic Pump DRAIN

Using Magic Pump DRAIN is simple.

First, pump up approximately one litre of liquid into the Magic Pump. You can draw the liquid from the sink or basin itself if there is sufficient water available, or simply use a jug or container of water.

Then place the Magic Pump firmly over the drain opening and push down with force.

For stubborn blockages, repeat the process as necessary.

It requires no electricity, no drain-clearing chemicals and can be used again and again.

Important: Do not use Magic Pump DRAIN if chemical drain cleaner has already been poured into the drain.

3. Once the drain is flowing, flush away loose residue

Once the blockage has moved and the water is flowing freely again, the next job is prevention.

In a kitchen sink, avoid pouring cooking oil, fat or grease down the drain. Scrape food residue from plates, pans and cooking utensils into the bin before washing them.

In bathrooms, regularly removing hair from the drain opening can help prevent it travelling further into the pipework and building into a larger obstruction.

Does bicarbonate of soda and vinegar unblock a drain?

This is probably one of the best-known home remedies for blocked drains.

When bicarbonate of soda and vinegar are mixed together they fizz dramatically, which can make it look as though something powerful is happening inside the drain.

Unfortunately, the fizz is not good evidence that a stubborn blockage is being cleared.

Bicarbonate of soda is alkaline and vinegar is acidic. When combined, they react with and largely neutralise one another.

Independent testing by Which? tried a mixture of bicarbonate of soda, salt and vinegar against both hair and greasy-food blockages. After repeated attempts, the blockages remained.

So while these household ingredients may have uses for cleaning or dealing with smells, we would not rely on bicarbonate of soda and vinegar to clear a stubborn blocked drain.

For a genuine blockage, physically removing or moving the obstruction is likely to be a more appropriate first approach.

How can you help prevent another blockage?

A few simple habits can make a difference:

• Keep cooking fats, oils and grease out of the kitchen sink.
• Scrape food scraps into the bin before washing dishes.
• Use a drain strainer to catch food or hair where appropriate.
• Remove visible hair from shower and bath drains regularly.
• Deal with a slow-running drain before it becomes completely blocked.

When should you call a plumber?

Not every blockage can or should be tackled yourself.

If several drains in the property are backing up at the same time, sewage is coming back through a drain, the blockage repeatedly returns, or manual attempts do not clear it, the problem may be deeper in the drainage system.

At that point, it is sensible to call a qualified plumber or drain specialist.

Clear stubborn blocked drains without relying on chemicals

For many everyday household blockages, it makes sense to try a manual solution before reaching for chemical drain cleaner.

Magic Pump DRAIN is reusable, requires no electricity and uses its sealed one-litre pump to help clear stubborn blocked drains.