Natural, eco-friendly remedy for slow bathtub drain?

Question

I've tried vinegar & baking soda, and boiling hot water. They help but not a lot. I can't use a snake because of the way it's designed.

I don't want to use OTC drain openers. Anybody have any green alternatives they'd like to share?

Answer 1

Did you try an old fasion plunger?

it takes some effort but that is how my Dad would do it.

Answer 2

Sorry took so long just checked my mail, I've use a old wire coat hanger. Just twist it till comes apart at the top then turn it in the drain seems to work well. Hope this works for you.

Answer 3

I have often been successful clearing drains using a wet/dry vac.  Once the vac is set up for wet pickup(no paper filters) block up the vent (in this case under the trip lever which also acts as the overflow) and apply the vac to the drain.  If the drain has a screen over it you can remove that.  This only works if the blockage is before the vent that is in the drain line.  That should be somewhere after the trap.  I

prefer not to use any chemicals on any drain that is blocked because if you cannot remove the blockage the chemicals tend to go to work on the pipes.  

By the way you snake a tub through the trip lever hole not through the drain. To do that you have to remove the trip lever mechanism first and replace it when you are done.

Answer 4

Good suggestions above.

If your bathtub has been around for awhile, you may have a sand trap under the drain.  Once those are full, they are a bear to clean out.

Try a lye product such as Red Devil.  Follow the directions carefully.  If the clog is organic, that will solve your problems.

Answer 5

Lye is 'eco friendly`, effective, and cheap.

Do be careful though.