Weirdest things people have used to clear a clogged drain

My neighbor once tried using a wire coat hanger and ended up poking a hole in the trap... cost him a fortune.

That’s a classic - coat hangers seem like a good idea until you’re dealing with a leak under the sink. I’ve seen folks try everything from wet-dry vacs to shop-vacuuming out a clog (sometimes works, sometimes just makes a mess). Ever seen anyone use compressed air? I watched someone try it with one of those computer dusters and, well, let’s just say it didn’t end well for their backsplash. Curious if anyone’s actually had luck with those “drain bladders” you hook to a hose? I’ve always wondered if they’re more trouble than they’re worth.

Drain bladders actually work pretty well in the right situation, but they’re not a magic fix. I’ve seen them clear stubborn clogs in main lines, but if you use one on old pipes or inside the house, you’re rolling the dice - pressure can pop weak joints or send water spraying out somewhere unexpected. Honestly, I’ve had more luck with a good old-fashioned hand auger for most sink clogs. The gadgets are tempting, but sometimes simple is safer (and cheaper) in the long run.

- Had to laugh reading this - once tried using a vacuum cleaner with a homemade seal (don’t ask, it was a mess).
- Drain bladders are powerful, but like you said, they can be risky on old plumbing. I’ve actually cracked a pipe joint before. Not fun.
- My go-to is usually a hand auger too. Less drama, more control, and I don’t end up cleaning water off the ceiling.
- For kitchen sinks, sometimes just a wire coat hanger does the trick, though you might end up sacrificing a shirt in the process...

Drain bladders are powerful, but like you said, they can be risky on old plumbing. I’ve actually cracked a pipe joint before. Not fun.

That’s exactly my concern with those drain bladders - there’s just so much pressure, and you never really know what’s lurking behind the walls in older houses. I’ve seen a neighbor try it and end up with water leaking into their basement ceiling. Not pretty.

Hand augers are definitely my preferred method too. You get a lot more feedback, and if you hit something solid, you can back off before causing damage. I’ve also tried the coat hanger trick for bathroom sinks, but I always end up scratching the chrome around the drain. Maybe I’m just not patient enough.

One odd thing I tried once was using a wet/dry vac in reverse, blowing air through the trap. It sort of worked, but honestly, it just made a mess and I had to clean up splatter all over the cabinet. Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason...

I get the hesitation with drain bladders, but honestly, if you use them with a little restraint and keep the water pressure low, they can be pretty effective - even on older pipes. I’ve had more issues with hand augers getting stuck or making the clog worse, especially with hair. The wet/dry vac trick is creative, but yeah, the mess isn’t worth it for me. Sometimes a good enzyme drain cleaner does the trick without any tools at all... just takes some patience.

- Totally agree about the drain bladders - used one on my 1970s kitchen pipes and it was like magic, as long as I didn’t crank the pressure.
- Hand augers? Those things are like wrestling an angry snake under the sink.
- Tried the wet/dry vac once... ended up cleaning more water off the floor than out of the drain.
- Enzyme cleaner is a winner if you’ve got time and patience. I always forget and check the drain every 10 minutes like it’s going to be instant.
- Pro tip: wire coat hanger with a little duct tape on the end. Not pretty, but hey, it’s cheap and sometimes gets the job done.

- Drain bladders are great, but yeah, you really have to watch the pressure. I’ve seen old pipes split from someone getting a little too enthusiastic with the hose.
- Hand augers...

“like wrestling an angry snake under the sink.”

One thing I’d add: always wear gloves and eye protection when messing with drains. You never know what’s lurking down there or what might splash back at you. Safety first, even if it looks ridiculous.

Never underestimate the power of a pair of rubber gloves and sheer stubbornness... but yeah, safety gear makes a difference. I learned that the hard way after getting splashed in the eye with who-knows-what from a kitchen sink. Not my finest moment.

Honestly, some of these “creative” methods people use are wild. I once watched a friend try to snake a drain with one of those flexible barbecue skewers. It actually worked, but only after he managed to jab himself in the palm - probably not OSHA approved.

Curious if anyone’s ever tried compressed air cans (like the kind for cleaning keyboards) on a small clog? Seems like it could go wrong fast, but maybe someone’s had luck with it.

Compressed air cans are a bit sketchy for drains, honestly. I’ve seen tenants try it and it just blasted gunk back up into the sink - messy and didn’t clear the clog. A wet/dry vac works better if you’re set on using suction or pressure.

Compressed air cans are a gamble, for sure. I’ve seen folks try them and just end up with a face full of whatever was in the pipe - never fun. Wet/dry vacs can work, but you’ve gotta make a good seal or you’re just moving air around. Ever tried a drain bladder? They’re not perfect, but sometimes they’ll push through a stubborn clog without the mess. Curious what other oddball methods people have seen... I once had a call where someone tried to use a leaf blower. Didn’t end well for their kitchen.

Drain bladders actually have a pretty solid track record in my experience - assuming you’re not dealing with ancient, brittle pipes. Compressed air cans, though? Might as well flip a coin and hope you don’t redecorate your shirt. I once saw a guy try to use a pressure washer hose down the sink... let’s just say the backsplash was impressive, if you like potato peels on the ceiling. Anyone ever see someone try one of those CO2 tire inflators? I’ve heard about it but never witnessed the aftermath.

CO2 tire inflators? That’s a new one for me - can’t say I’ve personally seen it, but I can only imagine the chaos. I mean, those things are meant to pump up bike tires, not blast out a year’s worth of hair and soap scum. Seems like a recipe for a geyser if you ask me.

I’ll admit, I’ve tried some questionable methods myself. There was this one time I thought a wet/dry vac would be the magic bullet. Ended up sucking out half the water and about three years’ worth of old coffee grounds... and then the filter gave up the ghost halfway through. Not my proudest moment, but hey, the drain was clear after that.

Drain bladders though, I’m with you - they’re pretty reliable unless your pipes are on life support. You do have to watch the pressure, though. My cousin once thought “more is better” and cranked it up; next thing you know, water’s coming out from under the bathroom wall. Turns out, that’s not where it’s supposed to go.

Pressure washer hoses? That’s bold. I’d be worried about blowing out joints or sending gunk back up into places it should never be. Compressed air cans seem like one of those “sounds good in theory” ideas but ends up with you wearing yesterday’s spaghetti sauce.

If anyone actually manages to clear a clog with a CO2 inflator and doesn’t redecorate their kitchen in the process, hats off to them. But for my money, I’ll stick to the tried-and-true - snake, plunger, maybe a bladder if I’m feeling adventurous. Anything else just feels like tempting fate... or at least a really messy cleanup job.

CO2 inflators are a hard pass for me - seems like a shortcut to a plumbing disaster, honestly. I’ve seen too many folks try “creative” fixes and end up with water damage that costs way more than just calling a plumber in the first place. The wet/dry vac, though, I’ll admit I’ve done that myself. Trick is to wrap a rag around the hose to seal it as best you can, but you’re right - the filter never survives if there’s a real mess in there.

On the drain bladder topic, I totally agree that you’ve got to watch the pressure. I had a tenant crank one up too high and it blew the P-trap right off under the kitchen sink. Suddenly I’m dealing with water everywhere and a very sheepish phone call. Since then, I always remind people: slow and steady wins the race with those things.

For what it’s worth, my go-to is usually a manual snake. Takes a bit of elbow grease but you can feel what’s going on in the pipe, and there’s less risk of blowing out a joint. Chemical drain cleaners are my last resort - too rough on the pipes over time.

I get where you’re coming from with the manual snake, but I’ve actually seen people do more harm than good if they don’t know what they’re feeling for. One wrong twist and you can really gouge up the inside of an old cast iron pipe. I’d still take a gentle bladder over a snake in some cases - at least you’re not scraping things up inside. Just gotta keep that pressure low and steady, like you said. Chemical cleaners, though...those scare me the most. Too unpredictable.

I hear you on the chemical cleaners - those things make me nervous too. I once tried a “safe for pipes” gel and ended up with a weird smell that lingered for days. I’ve actually had more luck with a wet/dry vac, believe it or not. Just duct tape the nozzle to the drain and cross your fingers. Has anyone else tried something totally off-the-wall, like a coat hanger or even a shop vac? Curious what’s worked (or backfired) for folks.

- Wet/dry vacs can work, but they're hit or miss. If the clog is solid and close to the surface, you might get lucky. Just be careful - if you don’t get a good seal, you’ll end up with a mess and probably not much suction.
- Coat hangers are a classic, but honestly, they can scratch up the inside of your pipes or get stuck themselves. I’ve seen more than one call where someone jammed a hanger down there and made things worse.
- Baking soda and vinegar - people swear by it, but in my experience, it’s only effective for minor gunk. Won’t touch hairballs or grease.
- Shop vacs are basically the same as wet/dry vacs for this purpose. If you try it, make sure you’re not sucking up standing water unless your vac is rated for it.
- One guy tried using a leaf blower once... that just blew water everywhere and didn’t budge the clog.

If you’re dealing with recurring clogs, it’s usually a sign there’s something deeper going on - could be buildup further down the line. Sometimes it’s worth pulling the trap and checking manually before reaching for creative solutions.

I’ve seen folks try just about everything short of dynamite to clear a clog - some of it works, a lot of it just makes a bigger mess. The wet/dry vac trick gets tossed around a lot, and yeah, sometimes you get lucky if the blockage is right at the top. But if you don’t seal off every single gap, you’ll end up with water sprayed everywhere and not much else. I’ve also seen people burn out their vac motors sucking up water they shouldn’t have.

Coat hangers... I get why people reach for them, but I’d steer clear unless you’re desperate and don’t care about scratching up the pipe. Plus, once that hanger gets stuck or snaps off down there, now you’ve got two problems instead of one. I pulled a 2-foot section of wire out of a bathroom sink last winter - guy thought he was being clever, ended up calling me anyway.

Baking soda and vinegar is fine for light soap scum or maybe some minor buildup, but it’s not going to do anything for a wad of hair or years of grease. It fizzes and looks impressive, but that’s about it.

Here’s what I usually recommend before anyone grabs the weird stuff:
1. Plunger first - make sure you’ve got a good seal.
2. If that doesn’t work, pull the trap under the sink (have a bucket ready). Nine times out of ten, that’s where the clog is hiding.
3. Still stuck? A proper drain snake (not a coat hanger) can usually get through most blockages.
4. If you’re seeing clogs over and over again, there’s probably buildup further down - could be time for a professional auger or even a camera inspection.

Leaf blowers... honestly, that one made me laugh. That’s just asking for trouble unless you like cleaning your ceiling.

People get creative when they’re frustrated, but sometimes simple is best. And if it keeps happening, there’s almost always something bigger going on deeper in the pipes.

Honestly, you’d be surprised what people shove down a drain when they’re desperate. Had a call once where a guy tried to fish out a clog using his kid’s plastic sword - ended up snapping it off in the trap. Took me longer to get the toy out than the original hairball.

Those wet/dry vac stories crack me up. I’ve seen more folks soak their kitchen than actually clear anything out. The ones who try it without plugging every gap usually end up with a face full of gunk water and a ruined vacuum.

I’ll add this: I’ve pulled out everything from toothbrushes to chopsticks. One lady swore by pouring cola down her drain, but all that did was leave me with a sticky mess to clean up. Plunger, trap, snake - if those don’t work, time to stop playing MacGyver and call in backup.

And yeah, leaf blowers... that’s just turning a small problem into a slapstick routine.

- 100% agree on the cola thing - tried it once after reading some “life hack” article. It just made my pipes sticky and didn’t do a thing for the clog.
- I’ve seen people dump boiling water with baking soda and vinegar, which sometimes works for minor stuff, but not when you’ve got a full-on hairball or, like you said, a toothbrush in there.
- Wet/dry vacs are great for certain messes, but drains? Not worth the risk unless you really know what you’re doing.
- I stick to a plunger first, then a drain snake. If that doesn’t work, I’d rather call someone than end up with a bigger mess or waste a ton of water.
- Honestly, the wildest thing I’ve seen is someone trying to use a garden hose to “blast” the clog out... just ended up flooding under their sink.

Tried the cola thing too - just ended up with a sticky mess and a clog that laughed at me. My neighbor once tried using a wire coat hanger and managed to get it stuck in the pipe. Sometimes you just gotta admit defeat and call in the pros.