Reading Time: 4 minutes Get Your Slow Drain Flowing Again With This Simple, Eco-Friendly Trick!
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Being a homeowner comes with a lot of different challenges. From time to time, you may have to deal with a clogged or slow drain.
Before you call a plumber and spend hundreds of dollars for them to run a snack through to clear any clogs, there are a few ways you can try to remove it on your own and without harsh chemicals.
Here’s a list of common plumbing issues and how to avoid them!
Table of Contents
Dirty Pipes Can Cause Slow flow
If you experience a slow drain, you don’t have to stress and wonder how much a fix will cost.
Before you call your local plumber, try this green method using baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water to get things moving again.
How To Get Things Moving Again
Start by shaking 1 cup of Baking Soda onto the sink and drain area.
Then add 1 C of vinegar.
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Allow the mixture to sit for 10-15 minutes to work through any gunk and junk, causing your drain to be slow.
You may notice that the mixture will turn blackish as some clog might bubble up into the sink. That’s what you see in this photo.
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After allowing the vinegar and baking soda to work their magic together for 15 minutes, you will want to slowly and carefully pour 2 cups of boiling water down the drain.
The hot water, combined with the vinegar and baking soda, will work together to clear whatever prevents your sink from draining at an appropriate speed.
Depending on your drain’s slowness, you may need to repeat the process several times.
Related: DIY Homemade Shower Head Cleaner – No Tools
Drain Maintenance
After mixing baking soda, vinegar, and hot water, you should notice water move down the drain at an appropriate and desired speed.
I use this method a few times a year in our bathroom sinks to keep the water flowing down the pipes.
How To Open A Clogged Drain Using Baking Soda
Clearing Slow Drain
Equipment
- Slow Draining Sink
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Baking Soda
- 1 Cup Vinegar
- 1-2 Cup Boiling Water
Instructions
- After water has cleared from a slow drain add 1 C Baking Soda get as much baking soda down and around the drain as you can
- Add 1 C vinegar
- Allow mixture to work for 15 minutes
- Add 1-2 Cups boiling water
- Allow mixture to clear the slow moving drain
- repeat if necessary until drain is cleared
How to Keep Your Bathroom Drain from Clogging
Clogged bathroom drains are an inconvenience no one needs. Thankfully, you can keep your drains from clogging and functioning properly with a few simple steps.
- Regularly inspect your drain for any hair or other debris blocking it. You may want to use a bent wire hanger to pull out any debris stuck in the drain. It’s also helpful to use a plunger occasionally to get rid of any clogs that have formed due to debris build-up.
- Frequently pour vinegar and baking soda down the drain, as this can help dissolve clogs and prevent them from forming in the first place.
- Invest in a mesh strainer for your sink, which can help prevent large pieces of food particles and other debris from entering the drain and causing blockages.
- Use hot water regularly when washing dishes or running the shower, as this can help flush out any grease or soap residue, which could cause clogs if allowed to accumulate over time.
- Never pour thick liquids like cooking oil down the drain, as this will congeal within pipes and cause blockages that are difficult to remove without professional plumbing services.
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Erin is the mother of identical twin girls and their slightly older brother. She is a domestic engineer, and previously had a career leading customer service teams for a major HVAC company. Cleaning without harsh chemicals, and cooking easy and usually healthy meals are part of Erin's daily life. She volunteers with youth leaders, and genuinely wants to help others win. Erin has a degree in Communications, with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.