You scoff, but it’s true! We’ve sung the praises of the plunger before. We believe it’s a must-have in your home, and a fantastic alternative to chemical drain cleaners. You can use a standard cup plunger to unclog your sink or garbage disposal drain, and a flange plunger to tackle a backed-up toilet.

And while the plunger is a surprisingly powerful tool on its own, did you know there was a way to make it even stronger?

It’s true! As we recently read on Lifehacker, a little petroleum jelly can help improve your plunger’s suction for those really tough jobs.

It’s as easy as it sounds! All you need to do is smear a layer of Vaseline or petroleum jelly around the bottom ring of your plunger. We recommend wearing gloves before touching the bell of your plunger, for your health and safety – and be sure to wash your hands afterwards!

Once you’ve applied the jelly, use the plunger as you would normally. Having the coating will allow the rubber to form a tighter seal around the drain than it normally could on its own. Voila! While you shouldn’t need to apply jelly for every job, keep some handy to help as a last resort to help against your most stubborn clogs.

Do you have any other DIY plumbing hacks that you think we should share? Looking to tackle a plumbing emergency that your plunger won’t be enough to handle? Let us know!

For all of your plumbing concerns, big or small, give Combat Plumbing a call! We’re here to happy to help with all of your plumbing , water leak, sewer and gas line needs, day or night.