subject: Clearing Drains With Homemade Drain Cleaner [print this page] If you have a drain that is slow or backed up completely, consider using a homemade drain cleaner prior to calling the plumber. Homemade drain cleaner is completely safe for the environment and is made from common household pantry ingredients. Clearing a simple clog can save you hundreds of dollars that a plumber will charge.
In order to make homemade drain cleaner you will need about half of a box of baking soda and one-half cup of white vinegar. First, pour the baking soda down the affected drain. Follow this with the white vinegar. These two ingredients cause a chemical reaction and the result is a bunch of bubbles. This bubbling action will work to eat off sludge and muck from the inside of pipes sometimes.
After the bubbling mixture has been at work for about a half-hour, boil some water, approximately 2 quarts. Immediately pour the boiling water down the drain. Your drain should be cleared. It is important to note that if you are working with a double sink you will need to put the drain plug in the side of the sink that you are not working on. If it doesnt work the first time you can attempt this again, but if it doesnt work the second time, its time to call the plumber.
In addition, this homemade drain cleaner will not work if a sink has standing water in it or in the drain. In this case you will have to use twice the amount of baking soda and vinegar. Leave this sit overnight for a sink thats completely stopped up. When you get up in the morning the sink should be clear. Follow up with a couple of pots of boiling water to finish clearing any debris thats left in the drain.
Natural drain cleaners, such as the one you can make listed above, are environmentally friendly and wont harm the animals that come in contact with wastewater. Theres no chance of burning your skin or eyes with a homemade drain cleaner as none of the ingredients are caustic. You also wont have to worry about the fumes as you do with traditional drain cleaners.
This cleaner can be used in all of your drains once per month to keep them smelling clean and fresh. This mixture wont harm your pipes and is environmentally friendly. If you have a drain issue that is not resolved with homemade drain cleaner, call a plumber before the problem worsens.
