Homemade Drain Cleaner

When I think of homemade drain cleaner I am reminded of a 5th grade science project Mt. Vesuvius.  I am also reminded of a very stubborn backed up sink, a name brand caustic drain cleaner and a Plumber who lectured me about using acidic drain cleaners, as his beet red hand managed to clean out my drain trap and fix the problem.  Not a fun way to learn a lesson for either of us.

The best way to keep from having a clogged drain is routine drain maintenance.  No you don’t have to be a plumber just a few do’s and don’t’s will keep your drains running free and clear of blockages.

Do’s

1. Weekly pour 1 tablespoon of baking soda in drain, add 1/4 cup of vinegar, let set for about half an hour then flush with boiling water.

2. Invest in a drain screen for bath tub, lavatory, and kitchen drains.  This will keep unwanted food particles, hair etc out of the drain, avoiding clogs.

3. Clean hair out of drain, very important for people with long hair, but even short hair can cause a problem in the drain+.  The lavatory and tub/shower especially need this treatment at least every six months.  I use a crochet hook, just reach down the drain and pull out the hair.  It is gross and nobody really wants to do it but hair is very hard to dissolve. Natural cleaners aren’t up to the task.

Don’t’s

1. Do not pour grease or fat down the drain.

2. Do not wait until the drain is completely backed up to clean it out.  When a drain starts running slow clean it.
3. Do not put food waste in a drain that doesn’t have a garbage disposal.

Mt. Vesuvius Drain Cleaner

• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Boiling Water
• Drain Stopper

Clean any standing water out of sink or tub. Sorry! A neccessary step.  Place 1/4 cup of Baking soda into drain.  With drain stopper in hand add 1 cup of vinegar.  Quickly stopper drain tightly.  Allow to set for 15 minutes. Pour boiling water into drain.  If it doesn’t drain. Repeat, making sure that the drain is stoppered tightly.  If you are cleaning a double sink, stopper both drains.

If this cleaner doesn’t work after the second application it may be time to call a plumber to have the drain trap cleaned out and check for blockage in the sewer line.

To keep drain smelling sweet

1. Grind lemon or lime peels in the garbage disposal.

2. Pour Lemon juice in drain.

3. Pour vinegar in drain.

4. Sprinkle baking soda in drain.

Special note. Women everywhere seem to be drawn to the idea of relaxing in a tub of scented bubbles or oils. The bubbles shouldn’t offer much trouble to your bathtub drain, but the oils can.  After your bath, you might want to clean out the tub with borax, or washing soda, to cut the oils. Or Pour Vinegar and boiling water into the drain.  But what ever you do, don’t give up your relaxing bath.