Bicarbonate of soda (or baking powder) and white vinegar All you need to do is pop a couple of teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda down the plughole and chase it with a cup of white vinegar. Leave it for about five minutes and then try flushing the blockage with the hot kettle water.
Pour about half a cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow it with a mixture of one cup of vinegar and one cup of hot water. This combination will create a fizzy reaction that can help break down grease and debris. Let the mixture sit in the drain for about 15 minutes, then flush it out with hot water.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Make sure you clear any standing water in the sink first, then pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow this with a cup of vinegar, and immediately put the rubber stopper in the drain. The mixture will fizz, and push the clog down. Follow with hot water from the tap to finish flushing.
Baking soda and vinegar: Mix one cup of baking soda with one cup of white vinegar and pour it down the drain. Cover the drain and let the mixture sit for 15 minutes. Then, remove the cover and run hot tap water down the drain. For more stubborn clogs, you can also use boiling water (2).
Baking soda is abrasive, which, when used in large quantities, will cause the drain more damage. Additionally, the acidic nature of vinegar can eat away rubber and metal, damaging the plumbing. As these products break down the pipe and connectors in the plumbing in your home, it will cause more clogs over time.
Completely fill an empty 2-liter bottle (a bottled water container might work if its diameter is large enough to fill the drain opening) with warm water and cover the bottle opening with your gloved thumb. Then, invert the bottle and position it deep in the mouth of the drain at the bottom of the toilet bowl.
To avoid harsh chemicals, you can make your own drain cleaner using natural ingredients. Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar and pour it down the drain. Wait for 10-15 minutes and then flush the drain with hot water. This combination works wonders in lots of household situations and the same is true for drains.
Vinegar is effective at cutting grease and baking soda causes a reaction with vinegar that bubbles up and helps to remove blockages in the pipe. Pour the baking soda into the drain first, followed by a generous glug of white vinegar. Wait a few minutes until the mixture has stopped fizzing and flush with hot water.
Squeeze the bottle so the water shoots out into the toilet drain. The pressure should dislodge the clog. It's a good idea to wear a mask and eye protection while doing this, in case the water splashes. Pour hot water into the toilet; if the water level goes down, the clog has cleared.
While white vinegar alone may not be as effective as a baking soda and vinegar combination, it can still help unclog drains with minor build-up. Pour about 1 cup of white vinegar into the drain, let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour, and then rinse with hot water.
In an effort to dislodge whatever is clogging the toilet, many homeowners get overzealous and thrust too hard downward into the toilet with their plunger. A hard thrust downward can break the wax seal between the toilet and the floor, causing a leak. And a really hard thrust could even crack the bowl.
The dish soap and hot water method is so effective that it's my goto. No more plunger 🪠 for me. You're gonna want a plunger 🪠 one day when you don't want to stick your hand and a cup in that toilet. A few ounces of Dawn dish soap- pour in- walk away - return in 15 minutes and flush.
However, a plunger isn't the only way to unclog a drain. If you experience a clogged toilet and don't have a plunger, there are other useful methods, including dish soap and hot water, baking soda and vinegar, Epsom salt, a metal wire hanger, and a plastic bottle.
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.
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.