If there’s food caught in the drain system of your dishwasher, remove it. Then, use a clean sponge to wipe the area clean. If you have a garbage disposal that smells, you can use Liquid-Plumr® Disposal & Drain Cleaner. It’ll help freshen the same plumbing the dishwasher uses and leave a fresh, citrus scent.

Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar, then pour the mixture in the filter basket in the basin of your dishwasher. Let it sit and soak through for about 10-15. Then, with safety in mind, carefully pour boiling water into the dishwasher basin and see if that successfully clears up the clog.

Drano is for clearing clogged sink, tub and shower drain pipes. Drano is for clearing clogged sink, tub and shower drain pipes. You should never put it in the toilet, and you definitely should never try to unclog a dishwasher drain with Drano. A dishwasher has a pump that actively flushes water out of the appliance.

Water in the bottom of the dishwasher results from clogs in the filter, garbage disposal, drain hose, drain pump, or air gap. When food or sediment build up within these systems, the dishwasher won’t drain properly. Locating the blockage and clearing the debris will solve the problem.

Make a mixture of vinegar, baking soda and hot water. Pour it down the basket in the bottom of your dishwasher. Wait about half an hour and then pour a pot of hot water down the basket. This can help to break up any clogs that may be in your dishwasher’s drain.

To try this method, follow these steps:

1. Boil water.
2. While you wait, remove as much of the standing water from the dishwasher as possible using a cup or sponge.
3. Pour the boiling water into the drain. If it stands there and doesn’t drain, give it some time to cool before removing the water and trying again.

Most chemical-based cleaners generate heat inside the pipe; PVC may not withstand the heat and it will melt, or harm the integrity of the pipe joints. If you want to try a home-based chemical remedy, try vinegar and baking soda. They pose no danger whatsoever to your pipes.

The salt will help break down grease and emulsified fats so that they can be flushed through the pipes more easily by the vinegar and hot water.

4 Steps to Unclog Your Drain with Baking Soda & Vinegar

1. Start by pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain.
2. Next, pour a cup of baking soda and 1 cup water/1 cup vinegar solution.
3. Cover with the drain plug and wait 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Pour boiling water down the drain again.

Baking soda and vinegar are common household products you can use to clean a lot of things. You can also clear a slow drain with baking soda and vinegar, with the help of hot water. You’ll want to pre-measure the baking soda and put them in the bathroom or kitchen where you will be clearing the drain.

Here’s how to unclog a slow-moving drain without calling a plumber:

1. Step 1: Boil a kettle of water.
2. Step 2: Grab the baking soda.
3. Step 3: Add 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of very hot water.
4. Step 4: Cover the drain with a plug and let it sit for 10 minutes.
5. Boil one more kettle of water.

Here are the best drain cleaners:

• Best for hair clogs: Whink Hair Clog Blaster.
• Best for grease clogs: Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver.
• Best non-chemical: CLR Power Plumber.
• Best preventative: CLR Build-Up Remover.
• Best hair clog preventer: TubShroom Strainer and Hair Catcher.