Keep the plumber away- Natural Homemade Drain Cleaner
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Unclogging drains with baking soda and vinegar, without using chemicals. Natural Homemade Drain Cleaner is easier than you think and way less expensive.
Did you know that some Feng Shui masters say that clogged drains deplete finances, health, aspirations, travel, clog sinuses, and simply, wreak havoc in general? I don’t know about you……..but a clogged drain can be rather pesky and annoying, not to mention, rather costly if you have to call in a plumber.
Check Your Pantry for Natural Homemade Drain Cleaner
So to keep my life running smoothly, both literally and metaphorically, I look in my kitchen pantry for all the ingredients I need to unclog my pipes and I can do it without causing damage to the environment or my pocketbook!
Unclog a drain with Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Pour 3/4-1 cup of baking soda in the drain.
- Pour 1/2 cup vinegar in the drain and immediately cover the drain (I use a plug or set a plate over it – you want to keep everything inside the drain)
- Leave everything to sit and work for about 30 mins (don’t use the sink during this time)
- After 30 mins, remove the cover and let hot water run thru the pipes for about 2-3 mins.
- for really tough clogs you may need to repeat – but I find if I do this on a regular basis (about once a month) it keeps my drains clear and fresh with out any problems.
Likewise, I do something very similar to keep drains fresh. Especially good for seldom-used drains.
Freshen Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup table salt and pour down the drain
- Follow by pouring 1 cup of heated vinegar down the drain (it will foam and bubble)
- Let it sit for 15 minutes
- After 15 minutes run hot tap water for 30-60 seconds.
Baking soda and vinegar are the foundation of DIY cleaning! It’s really that simple. For just pennies, you can keep your drains and home fume free by using Natural Homemade Drain Cleaner, baking soda and vinegar instead of harsh chemicals or calling the plumber.
This is just one of many ways to save money by using baking soda around your house. To save even more, head over to Arm & Hammer’s Savings Center to print out a $0.50 off coupon on your next purchase of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda!
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CLICK HERE FOR MORE TIPS FOR A TIDY HOME
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. I have used baking soda and vinegar to clean my drains for years!
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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How c does this affect my septic system m
I had a slow running drain for months tried many things and nothing worked until I tried the vinegar and baking soda. I really thank you! p.s. it was cheap!
Could you send me a copy of this page. My parents could use it so I would like to make a copy of this page for them.
I couldn’t see on this page where I could Email it to myself.
How do you clean a garbage disposal?
Good question! Mine is starting to stink and since I have such a small house, I can’t escape it! Let me know what you find out Barb!
Tawny
place a lemon in the disposal. Chop it up but don’t rinse it away yet. Wait 15 minutes and then rinse with hot water. Clean and fresh!
Ice cubes!! then you can cut up a lemon and run thru it as well
yes!! I’ve heard that before as well. Can’t remember if I’ve tried it or not – but can’t hurt. If it doesn’t foam up, then you know it didn’t work
Do you have anything to keep spa bath pipes clean ?
Yes! This is exactly what I need. I just bought my first home and want to be ahead of the game in taking care of all of my pipes. This is great! I’m going to add it to my monthly routine for the home. 😀
Love + Live Luminous
Tawny
😀
I have been looking for something to clean my drains for a while now. I purchased items from the store and they did not work as well as I would have liked. I have only tried this method once and can see a great improvement! Thank you for posting…
How do you pour a powder down the drain? Do you mix it with the vinegar first?
you just sprinkle it down the drain, you can remove the stopper or push it in with something like a spoon
LOVE THE APP.
This is totally a helpful tip and tutorial for unclogging drains. Fixing a clogged drain is essential to avoid flood and mold growth. This is something that can’t be ignored. A piece of advice, always check if there are molds around the surface where water is stocked. It is always best to be sure.
Baking soda and vinegar? I’m very curious now and will have to try this on my slow draining sink downstairs. Now I know a lot of cleaners can actually permanently damage you pipes, but this shouldn’t, right?
I am wondering if this will work on pipes which supply water to the entire household??? the water pressure in the taps has reduced considerably and am not in favour of using chemicals/acid in the pipes that supply water to the bathrooms and kitchen. do let me know. we use overhead tanks which store water to supply to the household. tkns
I had big problems with the drain t home and I couldn’t find the right detergent for it and one day I read this article and try your advice. Thanks a lot for she help. Now everything is clean!
I love homemade cleaners!!! I’m so happy that I found your post, because I didn’t have a recipe for the drain!
I have had a lot of problems with my drains over the years. Even with all those problems I have never tried making my own drain cleaner. I didn’t know that cleaning your own drain is as easy as vinegar and baking soda! Thank you for giving the exact measurements. That will really help me out when I try it later this week. My drains are clogging up, so now is the perfect time to test it out.
Helpful stuff! We’re always learning new green cleaning tips and tricks. I’ve learned to always have vinegar on hand.
Wow! I had no idea that I can clean the drain with so simple products! I will try this trick! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Hello! I’m just a tidy mom in training and I have a question regarding the vinegar used in this homemade drain cleaner. Will Apple cider vinegar do the trick or should I run to the store to get some regular vinegar (after cleaning the play room w/ my homemade vacuume cleaner of course lol!)
I’m pretty sure you can use the apple cider vinegar as well – let me know if you try it!
It may not be a very new idea, in fact, this combination is well-known to clean many fixtures, but it sure is a rock-solid solution. Basic chemistry, people; and you don’t need to dish out big bucks for a routine drain cleaning. But it is important to note that some plumbing problems or clogs may not be easily dissolved. If you try the vinegar and baking soda but the problem persists, there may be something bigger clogging your pipes.
Aiden
My drains have a way of clogging up every now and then. Buying drain cleaner from the store has been getting pretty expensive, so I need a cheaper alternative. I didn’t know that vinegar and baking soda can unclog my drain. That seems a lot more affordable than the cleaners I’ve been buying. It also seems like it would be more delicate with my septic system. I’ll try that out to find out how effective using vinegar and baking soda is for unclogging my drain.
I usually buy expensive drain cleaners which do not work very well, sot his cleaning recipe sounds easy and effective. Thanks for sharing!
Does it make any difference if you use apple cider vinegar? Or does it have to be white vinegar?
I’ll have to try the backing soda and vinegar rinse, hopefully that will help with the smell. The sinks in my house have smelled like eggs since I moved in, and I think if this doesn’t work I’m getting them all cleaned out. I’ll have my kids watch the sinks bubble, I think they would have fun with that, like it’s magic.
I must say that most of the drain cleaners which I use smell like real hell! They also do not do good job. I will definitely try your natural cleaning recipe here with the vinegar and the baking soda! Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you for the great tip! I had no idea that cleaning my drains was a simple as baking soda and vinegar. The best part about that is that those are both things that I consistently have in my kitchen cupboard! I won’t have to spend any extra money, and I can clean my drains at my convenience!
I use similar cleaning solution, but I use lemons instead of vinegar. I know that vinegar is a miracle cleaner, but I can’t stand the smell..
will this hurt my plastic pipes under my sink?
An all natural green cleaning product that takes care of the drain. Good stuff!
Hey, Cheryl! I’m very glad that I stumbled on your site! I’ve been struggling with water draining slowly out of my shower drain. It’s been very frustrating, because it’s difficult to take baths. When I get off work, I’m going to try this method—it looks promising!
Alex Jennings |
Thank you, Cheryl, for these wonderful DIY solutions to dirty drains! My kitchen sink has become quite filthy over years of cooking and cleaning dishes, and it needs some well-deserved TLC. I’m worried, however, about the effect that some of the acidic cleaners you recommended might have on the disposal. Do you know what might happen? Plumbing isn’t my strong suit, so I want to make sure I don’t end up with a clean drain but broken disposal.
I never would have thought to try baking soda and vinegar, but I’m not surprised. I swear baking soda has more uses than any other household product. I’ll have to give this a shot, thanks so much for the advice!
I’m tired of buying expensive drain cleaners and calling the plumber! I had the kitchen pipes unclogged two weeks ago and now I’m using your recipe for freshen drains, just to be sure there will be no new clogging. How often do you use this recipe, is once or twice a week too much? Thank you for the recipes!
Wow! I’ve used baking soda and vinegar to scrub persistent stains off my cookware, but it’s really cool to know it works on drains too. I don’t like having to call a plumber unless I’ve exhausted all other options, so I’ll be sure to give this a try next time 🙂
Hi! Thanks for the great tips on eliminating clogged drain. Hot water + vinegar did the trick!
I can say that this works! Granted, I got a little mesh stopper for the tub now that it’s cleared out to avoid hair building up, but before that, I tried using baking soda and vinegar. You definitely want to cover the drain after pouring the vinegar in, to force the reaction through the pipes and clear it out. It was a fantastic solution for an issue some people might call a plumber out for.
Wow, I knew that baking soda had a lot of uses around the house, but I didn’t know that it could help unclog drains! My daughters all share a bathroom, and their shower drain gets clogged all the time. Next time it happens, I’m going to give this a try! It sounds like it really works, and it’s all natural!
I love DIY cleaning solutions and I definitely hate clogged drains! We are three women at home and our long hairs really block the drain no matter if we immediately clean it or not. I use soda and vinegar for cleaning around the house so why not try it for cleaning the drains! Thanks so much for sharing!
I can confirm that this works! It’s almost like magic. The plumbing in my shower drain was getting backed up, so after I poured in the vinegar I blocked the entrance of the drain. This forced the reaction through the pipes and cleared it right out. I made sure to get a mesh cover for it after, tough!
Followed your directions to the T. It is now worse. Hard to believe huh? There is now standing water in my shower when there was none before I began.
Isn’t it great how some green cleaning solutions are so simple!
Knowing that there’s a natural drain cleaner will help solve all of my drain clogging problems. My wife started oil pulling and she’s been spitting coconut oil into the sink. It’s starting to clog my pipes, so I need to clean it out really soon. I like that your solution to a clean drain is as simple as pouring baking soda and distilled white vinegar down the drain. Letting it work its magic for thirty minutes without using the sink seems like a great tip to know. Hopefully, that will unclog all of the coconut oil that’s accumulated in my pipes. Thanks for the tips!
Wow, this is pretty clever! I hadn’t ever done any real research into alternatives. But this could save me a lot of time and money working with plumbers. Thanks for writing!
Wow. This trick with backing soda and vinegar is truly stunning. It cleaned my drain in few minutes. Thanks for sharing this fantastic idea!
Whenever I think of unclogging a drain, I think of chemicals. I had no idea that I could easily do it with simple household things like baking soda and vinegar. Thanks for that, now instead of going out for some chemicals I’ll just use what I have at home.
I have purchased an eco-friendly plumbing tool online – DrainFX . Heard about it on Gary Sullivan’s show. It cleared my sink, shower & bath tub drains.
Now I use it as a maintenance tool. It’s really cool.
What about hair. Does it unclog hair?
FYI: Although these pantry staples are handy on their own (both baking soda and vinegar can help clean all over the house), skip any DIY cleaner recipe that involves this not-so-dynamic duo.
“Baking soda is basic and vinegar is acidic, When you put them together you get mostly water and sodium acetate. But really, just mostly water. Plus, vinegar causes baking soda to foam up; if stored in a closed container, the mixture can explode.”
source: goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a32773/cleaning-products-never-mix
and in this article, Good Housekeeping teaches you to clean drains with baking soda and vinegar goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a17608/how-to-unclog-drain
vinegar and baking soda break down the soap residue, scum and other acids. Vinegar and baking soda expand and can actually fill a balloon with air if you put them together in a bottle. The pressure of the expanding products helps shove the clog down as it eats away at the edges.
Never store them in the same bottle and never use vinegar and baking soda after using an industrial chemical or when it is still present in the drain.
Wow. This trick with backing soda and vinegar is truly stunning. I saw a video about this trick and I conclude that it really works. Thanks for sharing this fantastic idea! I would love to try this soon!
I’ve used the BS and vinegar trick and it doesn’t do a thing, except fizz! You will see the chemical reaction and think it’s working…NOT! After researching this wives tale, I realized that mix the baking soda, which is a base and vinega, which is an acid, neutralizes the effectiveness. Acids are liquids which have pH balances of 1-6, where 1 is the strongest acid. Bases have pH balances of 8-14, where 14 is the strongest base. Water has a neutral pH balance of 7. BS is a base with a pH of 8.3 and vinegar is an acid and has a pH of 2.5. When you mix the two, even if you use more of one of the two ingredients than the other, you’re still neutralizing the pH. When mixed with equal parts, the pH of BS and vinegar is 5.4, which makes a very weak acid, close to that of water. The hot water chase after pouring the BS and vinegar down the drain, probably does more than combining the two ingredients together.
I used it last night,and it opened my drain. Then I let hot water sit in the drain all night,worked wonders for me.I have had a problem since I moved in here 17 yrs ago, the Plummer told me it was because there was not a vent for the sink. My drain is working great today. I had used several drain cones from store and it only worked a little while. I will use it regularly now. Draining fast now.!!!
I love your post – so useful! My drain is always clogged and I will definitely try your tips.