Baking soda and vinegar are a time-honored home remedy for clearing clogs, and it also works as a good, safe cleaner for removing stubborn soap scum and other grime from your shower walls and bathtub floor. First, be sure the water has drained through, and the drain is clear.
First, if you have metal pipes, pour boiling water down the drain. Then remove hair from the drain. If that doesn't work, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. If the clog persists, use a plunger, plumber's snake or chemical drain opener.
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.
Using baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain is an effective and natural cleaning method, which some people prefer over harsher chemicals. It works great for weaker drain clogs. By using this mixture periodically, you may be able to avoid clogs altogether (and the need for a more powerful cleaner like Drano).
Hydrochloric Acid (Muriatic Acid)
Properties and Uses: Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is a highly corrosive acid used extensively by plumbers to clear severe clogs. It reacts rapidly with organic materials in drains, breaking them down into simpler compounds that can be easily flushed away.
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.
Both baking soda and vinegar are highly caustic. They are, in fact, able to dissolve certain materials that one would not normally think of as being dissolvable. However, the extreme amounts of acid in vinegar, along with its acidic nature, are what cause the drain to become blocked.
Yes, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use in drains. It's gentler than many commercial drain cleaners and does not cause pipe corrosion, making it a reliable choice for routine drain maintenance.
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.
To make a drain snake, all you need is a wire coat hanger that you can unwind and straighten. Bend the end of the wire into a hook shape and insert it into the drain. Move it around until you feel resistance and then pull out any hair or debris that may be blocking the drain.
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Plunger. Plungers are frequently used to unclog toilets. However, they can also be used to remedy light clogs in sinks and showers. A plumber may first attempt to unclog a drain with a plunger.
Try Baking Soda & Vinegar
First, pour a cup of baking soda right into the drain. Wait a couple minutes, then pour a cup of vinegar down there. Let this mixture sit in the drain for a few hours as it works its magic. After a few hours, the mixture should dissolve the clogged hair.
A plumbing snake or auger can reach deeper into the pipe to break up or remove stubborn clogs. Insert the snake into the drain and turn the handle to navigate through the pipe. When you feel resistance, you've likely reached the blockage. Continue turning the snake to break up the clog or pull it out.
Mixing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda causes a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide and certain other chemicals which can cut through soap scum and hard water stains. This mixture can, therefore, be used to clean anything from bathroom tiles to cooking utensils.
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.
What is the best overall drain cleaner? During our lab testing, we found the Green Gobbler Main Line Opener performed best at clearing clogs. It's worth noting that the Green Gobbler Main Line Opener claims to be safe for toilets, sinks, tubs, showers and even septic tanks.
Pour hot water down the drain, followed by a cup of baking soda. Let it sit for a few minutes to work its magic on the gunk. After a few minutes, add a mixture of hot water and vinegar. This chemical reaction generates fizz, which can help break down the nastiest clogs.
Drain Line Material
Chlorine bleach can quickly eat away at not only the line but the glue and cement joining the line to the fittings and the condensation pan. If your drain line is PVC, stick to white distilled vinegar for clearing clogs and debris, particularly during winter.
Plumbers choose hydro jetting equipment for the most stubborn, deep-set clogs. This drain clearing tool uses high-pressure water to flush your pipes and remove years of buildup. The water jet is so strong that it can even break up any tree roots that have found their way into your sewer line.
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.