If you’re in a Zürich apartment and your drain is slow or blocked, there are a few cheap, safe things you can test yourself before calling a professional. These are the same kind of methods I use — just on a deeper level.
1. Pull out the obvious stuff
- Showers, baths, sinks:
Take off the strainer or cover and remove visible hair, soap scum, and gunk with your fingers or a small brush.
Often that alone is enough to make the water flow better.
2. Use drain‑cleaning sticks
- Buy Abfluss‑Reinigungsstäbe (drain cleaning sticks) from Migros or Jumbo — two usually cost under 10 CHF.
- Hook them into the drain and pull out hair and debris that’s stuck in the first 10–20 cm.
- This is a mechanical trick, so it won’t damage your pipes.
3. Use a Pömpel (plunger)
- A classic rubber Pömpel uses pressure to loosen clogs.
- Kitchen sink: for fat and food buildup.
- Bathroom sink & shower: for hair and soap scum.
- There is special one for WC also, in case.
- You can get one at Migros or online (Galaxus.ch) for under 10 CHF.
Pro tip: Seal all drains by turning them if loose and place towel under sink to catch drips from any potential loose connections.
4. Use the overflow hole trick when pumping
- When you use a Pömpel on a bathroom sink or bathtub, plug the overflow hole with a wet cloth or small towel. Even better a scotch.
This seals the system so the pump pressure actually goes into the pipe, not out of the overflow — it’s one of the best‑kept secrets of the trade 😄
5. Flush with hot water (carefully)
- For simple soap or fat clogs, slowly pour hot (not boiling) water down the drain.
- Do not use boiling water directly into ceramic toilets / WCs — it can crack the porcelain.
6. Add a bit of dish soap for kitchen sinks
- If your kitchen sink feels greasy and sluggish, add half a bottle of fair‑type dish soap and then hot water.
- The soap helps break down fat and lets water flow through more easily.
7. Dishwasher‑to‑kitchen‑drain gotchas
- If your dishwasher drains into the kitchen pipe, washing‑tablet residues can harden inside the pipe over time.
- That buildup can narrow the pipe and cause slow drainage.
- In some cases, you may need to open the pipe under the sink and clean it, or call a specialist if the clog feels deeper or smells bad.
8. Keep bathroom drains cleaner regularly
- Shower and bath drains:
Remove hair and soap scum at least once every few weeks — especially if you notice water pooling. - Bathroom sinks:
Toothpaste, hair, and tiny bits of soap quickly build up under the strainer.
Clean it every few days to avoid slow clogs.
9. Skip chemical drain cleaners
- I never pour chemical drain cleaners into your plumbing, and I recommend you avoid them too.
- They:
- Damage pipes over time,
- Can weaken older pipes in old Zürich apartments,
- Release toxic, volatile fumes that are bad for your health.
- Chemicals should be a last resort, if at all.
10. When it’s time to call a specialist?
If you’ve tried:
- Pulling out visible hair and gunk,
- Using drain‑cleaning sticks,
- A Pömpel,
- Hot water and a bit of dish soap,
- Or you’re just tired of trying or out of time 😀
and your drain is still blocked or slow, the clog is probably deeper in the pipe or even in the building’s line.
This is exactly where I come in.
I use the same simple, mechanical tools you can try at home — Abfluss‑Reinigungsstäbe and a Pömpel — but on a deeper level, so I can clear the clog without damaging your pipes.
I never pour chemical drain cleaners into your plumbing, and I usually avoid opening or disassembling anything.
I only work where it’s safe and necessary, so you get a professional unclog with minimal risk — and I’m fully insured, just in case something unexpected comes up.
FAQ for more details.
Quick note about your rent contract and building‑line clogs:
Sometimes the clog isn’t in your apartment’s pipe but in the building line, and then it’s usually the owner or Hauseverwaltung that needs to act — not you.
Often your tenancy agreement says you pay for flat‑related extraordinary expenses up to around 150 CHF (check your own contract), but professional help for building‑line issues should cost more and normally falls under the landlord / Hausverwaltung.
If I try everything and your drain is still blocked, I’ll tell you if it looks like a building‑line problem so you can talk to your landlord or directly to your Housverwaltung about it.