How to easily unblock the bottle trap in the bathroom

Did you know that a bad smell in your bathroom could be due to a blocked bottle trap? It is a key component of the drainage system in the home, but it can easily get blocked with the build-up of hair, soap and other residues. When this happens, the water drains away more slowly and it can even block completely.

This article explains how to easily unblock the bathroom bottle trap in a practical, step by step guide so that you can resolve the problem without further complications and keep the drains working as they should.

Signs that the bathroom bottle trap is blocked
 

There are some signs that suggest the sink bottle trap could be blocked. The following are the most common ones, and if there are several of them at the same time, there is sure to be a blockage either in your bottle trap or in any of the joins with the pipes.

• Water drains slowly from the shower or sink.
• Pooling of water that takes time to disappear after using the sink or shower.
• Bad smells from the drains, particularly when turning the tap on or when you enter the bathroom.
• Bubbling noises in the drains when water is draining away.
• Water returns at other points in the bathroom when one of the drains is being used.
• More damp or visible dirt around the drain hole or the botExisten algunos indicadores que indican que el bote sinfónico del lavabo puede estar obstruido.

How to unblock the bottle trap in the bathroom step by step

When we notice that the bathroom bottle trap is blocked, it is important to sort it out as soon as possible. In addition to avoiding further complications, the drain will work properly again with some simple intervention that anyone will be capable of doing. Take note of the following steps:

1. Place some old towels or cloths under the bottle trap to avoid water dirtying the floor. We recommend wearing gloves.
2. Open the bottle trap: remove the lid carefully. It may be snap-on or screw-on.
3. Clean any visible dirty: manually pull out any hair, soap remains and dirt that has built-up around the hole and inside the trap.
4. Pour out the dirty water: if it is very full, you can use a beaker or a small receptacle to empty the water into before deeper cleaning.
5. Check the inside and passages: check for any obstructions in the side outlets. If you are unable to reach using your fingers, you can use a piece of flexible wire or a brush.
6. Rinse in hot water: pour some hot water through to flush out any remains of grease or dirt. If it is PVC pipe, avoid using very hot water.
7. Rinse the lid and check that it works properly. To do so, open the tap or the shower to check that the water flows properly and there are no leaks or bad smells.

If the problem continues after this process, there may be a blockage further down the drain and you may need to use a plunger or call in a professional.

Best products to help unblock bot

Not all products work the same when attempting to unblock a bottle trap. Choosing the right product is important according to the type of blockage (whether it is hair, grease or solids) and how tightly blocked the drain is.

There are different types of products available: chemical drain cleaners in gel or liquid formats, that work by dissolving the grease, soap or organic remains; the most powerful products are suitable for severe blockages, although care should be taken when using them. There are also specific formulae for hair, which are very useful in bathrooms, and very effective instruments to help unblock drains, such as drain snakes or plungers, that physically force out the blockage without damaging the pipes.