How to unclog sink, shower, or toilet drain in Thailand

This article talks about drain cleaning products you can buy in stores in Thailand and how to easily fix a clogged sink.

Clogs in the sink, shower, and toilet – why they occur and how to prevent it

Clogs in the sink or shower – although not very frequent, but quite a regular problem in Thailand. Some kind of dirt, possibly a product of the vital activity of bacteria, accumulates in the pipes, gradually reducing the clearance in them.

As a result, at first you notice that the water began to leave more slowly than before, and then you have to wait until the water has completely drained.

The problem may be stronger or weaker from time to time, but it will not disappear by itself. You need to buy a clog cleaner, and it is better to do this before the water stops going down the sink altogether.

How to deal with blockages in the sink or toilet

The method is quite simple and usually effective: use chemicals (powder or liquid) that will corrode the blockage. For this to work, it is necessary that the water, at least slowly, but leave.

If the water got up tightly and stopped leaving at all, then it will need to either be scooped out or a physical means to break through blockages, in other words, a plunger, be used.

You can buy a plunger at outdoor home improvement stores, or at the hardware departments of Big C and other malls.

That is why it is desirable not to bring the blockage to an extreme state, when the water does not leave at all. This will add headaches and work to you.

If you don’t want to buy a plunger, and the water won’t go away, then with the help of a bag and a hand you can sometimes make the water flow out of the sink at least a little bit – that’s enough.

Precautions when using unclogging remedies

Ideally, rubber gloves and protective glasses should be used when handling clogs. Most people don't have this in the house – I'm no exception.

So just remember that clog cleaners are very caustic alkalis. Use them very carefully, try to avoid contact with the skin, and even more so with the eyes. In case of contact, flush affected areas with plenty of water.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling anti-blockage products.

Powders and liquids against blockages in the bathroom and toilet. How to use unclogging remedies

Let's consider the popular anti-blockage products. Basically, they can all be used for sinks, showers and toilets. If there are nuances, then I will note this.

• Means based on caustic soda:

Mr Muscle (with a picture of a water pipe)

A good tool for clearing blockages in sinks and drains in showers. Never let me down.

Please note that several products are sold under this brand. One of them on the packaging of which pipes are depicted. I highly recommend this for pipe cleaning. This product is based on sodium hydroxide (caustic soda).

There is another Mr Muscle product with a picture of a toilet bowl – this is a product with bacteria, we will return to it a little later.

In short, you need Mr Muscle in a package with a picture of pipes to clear the blockage in the sink and shower.

How to use: Pour the contents of the package into the drain hole of the sink. To make the product go inside, use 200-500 ml of water (1-2 cups). Do not use the sink for 20-30 minutes. If you clean the toilet, then pour the contents into the toilet, trying in every possible way to avoid getting the powder on the rim of the toilet bowl and other elements that touch the human body. Press the drain with less force so that the agent passes a little into the pipes, but does not leave them too quickly. Wait 20-30 minutes.

Farcent (powder)

Another caustic soda product that has never let me down.

Since the composition is the same as the previous remedy, the method of application and the effect are the same.

Maxa

In this product, in addition to Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda), Sodium Carbonate (soda ash) is also present.

Apparently, as planned, soda ash should enhance the effect (although this is a very weak alkali, in contrast to the really dangerous caustic soda).

The use is similar: pour the bag into the drain of the sink, pour 200 ml of water into it and wait at least 20 minutes.

Farcent (liquid)

Above, we already mentioned Farcent, which is sold in small bags in powder form.

You can also purchase Farcent in liquid form. The active substance in it is the same: Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda). But the concentration is about 25% (in powder about 50%). But there is a whole liter in the bottle!

I bought this bottle when I wanted to clean the toilet drain pipes. That is, if you want to clean multiple sinks, or use a tough clog cleaner multiple times, or to clean large pipes, then consider buying one.

There is a measuring scale on the edge of the bottle.

The method of application and precautions are the same as for other preparations based on caustic soda. After using Farcent fluid, you do not need to pour additional fluid into the sink. Just let the remedy do its job and don't use the sink for a while.

Savepak. Drain Opener

All the products discussed in this article came across to me in Big C. But you can find them in other stores with a home improvement department.

In Makro (a store focused on small wholesale and large packages), you can also find the listed products. There is also a larger range of liquid anti-blockage products, including the brands already mentioned (for example, Mr Muscle).

Some brands, for example, Farcent are sold in 3 packs – the price per pack is lower.

But you can save even more by purchasing a “Savepak. Drain Opener”. This package contains 375 grams of active ingredient. The concentration of caustic soda is 55.6%. Price: only 95 baht.

The previous products are packed in 50-65 grams and the price is from 50 baht.

That is Savepak. Drain Opener can save you a lot of money if you need to clear some serious blockages.

Under the cap, you will see another cap that provides tightness. As I mentioned, caustic soda turns into baking soda when not sealed, so don't throw away that lid. Due to hermetic storage, the active substance will not lose its active properties.

• Biological agents (bacteria):

Big Fog

Biological agent based on the bacterium Bacillus subtilis (hay bacillus / grass bacillus).

This is a very harmless bacterium: if you let the brewed tea cool and leave it for a while in a mug, then after a while you will see a thin layer on the surface – this is the hay stick.

But you still need to be careful when working with Big Fog!

Like other biologics, Big Fog is gentle. If you have a serious blockage, then I would recommend you the caustic soda remedy, which we discussed above.

Biological agents are more suitable in the presence of an unpleasant odor or a slight slowdown in the flow of water in wide pipes.

When using Big Fog, do not use caustic soda products as it will kill the bacteria. You can use caustic soda for the initial cleaning and then use a biological cleaner after some time.

Biological agents are recommended to be used regularly: usually once every 15-30 days.

Mr Muscle (with a picture of a toilet bowl)

Another biological agent, also based on Bacillus subtilis (Hay stick).

The peculiarity of this product is that it is a large granules, which, except for the toilet, will not fit anywhere else.

How to use: pour into the toilet and press the flush once. Do not use the toilet for a while.

Like other biological agents, this should not be used with caustic soda as it will kill bacteria. It is recommended to use at least 1 time per month.

I bought this product, I was not very impressed with the effect. After a couple of weeks of waiting, I decided to use caustic soda, which did not disappoint.

If the blockage is very strong

If after the first application you notice a positive effect, the water began to drain a little better, but still slowly, then just use the blockage remover one more time.

I don't see the point in splitting one bag into two. IMHO, use the whole bag at one time. First, due to the low concentration of active ingredient that half a bag can provide, you may not be able to clear the sink clog. Secondly, if not stored tightly, caustic soda will absorb carbon dioxide from the air and turn into soda ash. That is, when stored in an open form, the active substance will almost completely lose its effect over time.

To clean the pipes in the toilet, I recommend using two bags at once.