How to Clear a Clogged Drain With Common Household Products

If your drain gets stopped up and you don't feel like running to the store for a commercial drain cleaner, you can make your own. As long as you have some baking soda, white vinegar and a teapot, you can whip up a powerful drain cleaner that rivals the professional formulas.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Measuring cups
• Spoon
• Teapot
• Water

Instructions

1. Remove any drain covers, stoppers or other obstructions from the drain itself.

2. Measure 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar.

3. Fill a teapot with water and place it on high heat.

4. Spoon the baking soda into the drain, then pour the vinegar in on top of it. You'll hear lots of fizzing for the next few minutes, during which time the water will come to a boil.

5. Slowly pour the boiling water directly down the drain.

Tips & Warnings

• If the only ingredient you have is vinegar, try boiling a teapot full of vinegar and slowly pouring it down the drain. While it's not as effective as the process described above, it does work on moderate clogs.

• Use extreme caution when carrying a teapot full of boiling water from one room to the next. Make sure your path is clear of obstructions, children and pets.