Baking Soda and Vinegar Magic One common method for unclogging drains without tools is to use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Simply pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes, then flush the drain with hot water.
Baking soda and vinegar can serve as a natural solution to unclog and clean a stinky drain.
Why? Baking soda is a base while vinegar is an acid, their chemical reaction produces water with a tiny amount of salt in it, not a fat destroying drain cleaner. Plus vinegar and baking soda are not surfactants, so they do not help water carry oil and grease away the same way that detergents can.
Mix 240ml of boiling water with 240ml of vinegar in a measuring jug. Then, add 120g of baking soda into the mix and pour this into the drain. This should foam up inside your drainage pipes and clear the blockage. Let the mixture sit for an hour.
Drain snakes also called drain rooters or augers, use a long cable with a spiral-shaped head.
Heat 2 or 4 liters of water on your stove or in a kettle to just short of boiling. Add about 1/2 cup of salt. Try pouring this down the drain, then wait 15 minutes before seeing if it will clear more easily. If you need a stronger cleaning, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then add 1/2 cup of vinegar.
If you put too much baking soda down a drain onto a clog, it can sit on the clog and become a solid mass as it is subjected to more and more water. This will make the block worse and even harder to remove.
Coke and Pepsi are loaded with phosphoric acid, which breaks down the buildup that can clog your drains. Phosphoric acid can even remove lime scale and other tough buildup that regular cleaners struggle with. This is an effective and refreshing home remedy if we ever saw one.
Baking soda and vinegar is a tried-and-tested mixture for unclogging drains. Since you probably have these ingredients lying around, this is also one of the most cost-effective drain cleaners you can make at home. Pour one cup of baking soda down the affected drain, immediately followed by one cup of white vinegar.
Yes, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use for unclogging a drain. It will dissolve and loosen natural matter—like skin cells—stuck in the pipes. Hydrogen peroxide also reduces germs and disinfects the drain, helping it smell fresher and clean.
Pour one-half cup table salt down the drain, followed by boiling water. Or try a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar—let it bubble, wait 15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain. You can also try a cup of baking soda and a half-cup of salt; let it sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water.
Salt and Baking Soda
Salt is a cost-effective alternative that works well for minor clogs. Mixing half a cup of table salt with baking soda and pouring it down the drain before adding boiling water can help break down grease and debris.
For best results, start by squirting a little dish soap into your drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Wait five minutes or so, for the chemical reaction of the vinegar and baking soda to take effect, then chase that with a cup or more of boiling water.
Another option for dissolving hair in a drain is to use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This mixture will create a chemical reaction that will break down the hair.
Although you can use 1/5 to 3/4 of a cup of bleach to clean and deodorize drains, followed by a good flushing of hot water, it will not clear a clog. Bleach is amazing at sanitizing and killing germs, but it won't eat through hair and soap scum that's trapped in the pipes and causing a clog.
Baking Soda & Vinegar – A well-known method recommended by moms everywhere, a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and vinegar poured down your drain and then left to sit for half an hour will help break down any soap scum or clogs that are in your pipes.
Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.
Tbs of Dawn dish soap - 1/2 cup of baking soda- 1 cup of vinegar. Try it out! You might be startled by how much gunk will come out!#
Sometimes you have to wonder what they were thinking. Put boiling water or vinegar down the drain – While it is probably ok to run some hot water down your drain if you notice the start of a clog, avoid pouring boiling water or vinegar down your drain.
Drain Snakes
Also known as plumbing augers, these versatile, budget-friendly tools are great for hard-to-reach or stubborn clogs in toilets, sinks, tubs and showers. There are several different types: Drum augers or snakes have a motor that rotates the cable.