How to Unclog a Drain Using Natural Products
A stopped-up shower or sink drain can be extremely unpleasant for any homeowner or apartment dweller. Instead of turning to the plumber for expensive fixes, unclogging a drain yourself is not a terribly hard task, but often can involve harsh chemicals, such as those found in Drano and bleach. Fortunately, there is a simple way to loosen those clogged drains by using natural products that you often may have lying around your house. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Paper towel or rag
- Dry measuring cup
- Liquid measuring cup
- Butter knife
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 cup white vinegar
- Kettle or a pot
- 6 cups of boiling water
Instructions
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1
Remove the shower or sink stopper so that the drain is completely open, and run some water from the faucet to confirm the clog.
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2
Run water around the clogged drain until the area is moist. Use a paper towel or rag to clean the area of any external or visual clogging culprits, such as clumps of hair. Wipe the drain area completely dry.
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3
Measure out a ½ cup of baking soda, such as Arm & Hammer brand, with your dry measuring cup. Scrape off any excess soda with a butter knife so that the measurement is level in the cup. Carefully pour the entire contents of the cup directly into the clogged drain. Tap the bottom of the measuring cup to make sure all the powder comes out of the cup. Make sure that the powder goes entirely down the drain and very little lands around the tub or sink area.
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4
Measure out 1 cup of white vinegar, such as Heinz Distilled White Vinegar Brand, in your liquid measuring cup. Carefully pour all of the vinegar directing into the clogged drain on top of the baking soda. Make sure that all the vinegar goes into the drain. You will see a strong visual reaction of foaming and bubbling from the vinegar hitting the baking soda, similar to a homemade volcano model from childhood science fair projects.
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5
Let the drain sit with the vinegar and baking soda for 15 minutes. The baking soda and vinegar will loosen up the drain clog from the pipes and begin to free up the pipe.
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6
During the 15-minute wait, put a kettle or a pot with 6 cups water on the oven burner on high and bring it to a boil. This should take about 5 minutes.
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7
After 15 minutes, take the kettle or pot from your stove and pour all 6 cups of boiling water directly into the clogged shower or sink drain. This will wash the remains of the vinegar, baking soda, and clog gently down your pipes.
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8
Turn on your faucet and run some warm water into the formally clogged drain to make sure the unclogging worked properly.
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9
If you are still experiencing a backup of water, repeat Steps 1- 8. Repeat as necessary.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Do not attempt this process if any chemical drain cleaners are present in the drain.
