Clogged drains are one of the most annoying things a homeowner, business owner or renter can face. However, chemical drain cleaners are not always the answer to a blocked drain.
Let’s face it; it is tiring to find water pooling in the basin every day from a clogged drain. Not to mention the disgusting odour that comes from blocked drains!
If you have been facing issues with drainage regularly, it is time to take action. Blocked drains can be problematic, and if not sorted out soon, they may lead to pipes bursting or a terrible odour in the kitchen.
But let us tell you that household ingredients can quickly fix the problem. With the baking soda method, you will need baking soda and vinegar for this DIY solution, which should work well to clean clogged drains.
We have explained the entire process in the next section for your benefit. Follow the simple steps and opt for this eco-friendly, cost-effective solution rather than hiring professionals. It is indeed a great way to tackle emergencies without hitting the supermarket.
So, let’s dive into how to clean drains with vinegar and baking soda cleaning solution!
How To Clear Blocked Drains With Baking Soda?
Baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) is present in every kitchen and works wonderfully with clogged pipes. It can help clear hair, grease and food particles all at once.
And let us tell you, cleaning a clogged drain is not tricky. You can have a cleared-out drainage pipes within an hour. Follow the next steps, and you should see results almost immediately.
1. Clearing The Dirty Water
Before beginning the process, it’s essential to clear the dirty water from the sink. This is needed to ensure that your solution will immediately reach the drain. If the dirty water is stagnant in the sink, use a viper to clear it away. Only once the basin is clear, move on to the next step.
2. Boil Water
Next, you will need some boiling hot water for a hot water rinse and aid the process. For this, you can either heat water on a stovetop until it begins to boil or use a microwave. You will need very hot water to dissolve and clean the impurities stuck in the drain.
Remember not to use lukewarm water or hot tap water as the effect will drastically reduce, and the drain may continue to be blocked with food residue.
3. Using Dish Soap
For this, you can use any store-bought grease-fighting dish soap that will help in the drain cleaning process. Please take a good amount of soap and pour it straight into the sinkhole. The soap should go into the drain completely before running any boiling water. This will help clear the grease and create more space for the baking soda to work better.
4. Adding The Baking Soda
Once the initial grease has been cleaned, use your top ingredient that will work wonders in clearing the drain. You will need 1 cup of baking soda for this process. With a minor drain, you can you a lesser amount. Remember that pouring in too much baking soda will not help, as it accumulates near the drain hole.
5. Pour In Vinegar
You will have heard this before, but baking soda and vinegar make the perfect mix to unblock your drain. You will need distilled white vinegar for the next step of this process, which might cause audible reactions. If there are sounds, then know that you are doing it right.
Baking soda is alkaline, and when you mix vinegar with it, alkaline reacts with mild acetic acid. This will neutralize the baking soda, and vinegar will cause a ‘fizzing’ chemical reaction, which you’ll be able to hear. This process will help you in dislodging any particles inside the drain.
6. Pour Boiling Water
Leave this to ‘fizz’ for around 5 minutes; after this, it should start subbing. Once it does, pour down 2 cups of boiling water. Keep the boiling water ready, as there can’t be much of a time gap between pouring the vinegar and water.
Also, the boiling water needs to be poured directly into the drain. This will help take the soda and vinegar solution through to clear anything clogging the drain.
7. Put The Stopper
Once the boiling water has been poured along with your vinegar solution, close the drain mouth with a stopper and let the solution do its work. Give it around half an hour before opening it again. Carefully pour in more boiling water and see if it is draining well. If the blockage persists, you will have to repeat the process.
An Extra Tip
You can keep your drains clear by using baking soda regularly. After you have washed all the dishes for the day, pour half a cup of baking soda into your drain and let it sit overnight. The following morning, pour hot water and a small amount of vinegar and flush the baking soda through the drain. This will keep the passage clean and prevent large-scale problems in the future.
Clean Blocked Drains With Baking Soda And Vinegar
There you have it, our guide to homemade drain cleaner which is safer than a chemical drain cleaner for your pipe. Whether you have a drain clog in your bathroom sink from soap scum, or slow drains in your garbage disposal, the baking soda and vinegar method is great to clear your drainage pipe.
We suggest using a strainer basket to trap all your food particles and prevent them from clogging drains. Also, remember to clean the cookware before putting them in the sink. Grease is a major enemy of drains and tends to accumulate a lot.
Adding on, make it a point to keep pouring boiling water and grease-removing dish soap into the drain once a week. This will prevent any severe clogging.
If it does not work after several attempts, it is best to call a professional. There could be other issues, and it is best to let a professional handle them. Our Sydney plumbers can assist you with clearing your blocked drains and routine cleaning, so don’t hesitate to contact us!
With this, we have reached the end of our guide, and we hope this has been helpful to you. Good luck keeping your drains free of clogs!
