When you turn on the faucet in your bathroom sink and the water doesn’t drain quickly, that means there is a clog. But what’s the best way to deal with it?
Any professional plumber will tell you that a commercial drain cleaner should never be your first choice. These products are harsh and can damage your pipes. They’re also expensive, and harmful to the environment.
If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly and effective way to unclog your sink, look no further than a baking soda and vinegar mixture. This household combination is actually quite simple to use once you know the process, which this article will show you.
How Can Homeowners Clean Bathroom Drain?
If your bathroom drain is running slowly or is clogged, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar will do the trick. Plus, you likely already have everything you need on hand. Here’s how it’s done:
- Flush the drain with hot water…
- If the drain still smells bad, pour a cup of baking soda down it…
- Down the drain with a solution of vinegar and water…
- Put the drain cover on and wait five minutes…
- Flush the hot water down the drain…
Now that the obstruction is clear, you can flush any leftover dirt down the drain by running hot water through the faucet for a couple of minutes.
The safest and most effective way to clean a bathroom drain is by using vinegar and baking soda. This method doesn’t involve any harsh chemicals, and can be done without leaving the house. Keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to clean your bathroom drain naturally.
Using Vinegar and Baking Soda to Clean a Bathroom Drain
A slow-draining bathroom sink is undoubtedly frustrating, but what many don’t know is that pouring chemical cleaner down the drain comes with its own consequences. Not only will the odor linger for hours, but the vapors may be dangerous to your health. If you have a septic system, this problem could pose an even bigger threat since certain chemical drain cleaners are detrimental to septic systems.
Step 1: Boil some water
Start by boiling some water on a stovetop, electric skillet, or other appliance.
You will need a substantial amount of boiling water for this, so make sure to have a pot or kettle large enough. The water should be hot, but not boiling. It’s not a good idea to flush boiling water down the drain since it might crack the pipes. Therefore, it is better to wait for the water to cool down before using it. However, you can reserve one cup of this water for later use. Flush the rest of the hot water down the drain.
Step 2: Add Baking Soda
Next, pour one cup of baking soda into the drain. Some spillage is okay—in fact, it’s better if you can pack as much of the baking soda into the drain as possible.
There might be a drain stopper along the drain. Many people do have this in their bathroom and if you’re one of them, try to get the baking soda past the trap. If you keep pushing, eventually you can break through the obstruction.
Step 3: Add Some White Vinegar and Water
If you’ve set your mug of hot water aside, don’t forget to add the cup of white vinegar. If your water has cooled a bit or if you didn’t save any originally, that’s okay – in this case, use a cup of boiling tap water instead.
You should flush the drain with vinegar and water solution. The vinegar and baking soda reaction will cause the mixture to bubble. This, of course, is a good indication of what we’d hoped for.
Step 4:Wait for five minutes.
Use a drain stopper for optimal results. Mix the baking soda and vinegar thoroughly, then wait at least five minutes. The foaming reaction will happen inside the drain instead of overflowing outside if you use a stopper. Even though the process can continue without one, it might produce better results with a drain stopper in place.
While you wait, heat up some more water so that you can flush it down the drain when the time comes.
Step 5: Use hot water to flush down.
Flush the baking soda, vinegar, and any other residue down the drain with scalding water. Remain nearby for five minutes to make sure everything moves through as it should. You should now see a difference in your drains. If you want to make sure everything is cleaned out, try running hot water from the faucet for a few minutes.
Conclusion
If you have vinegar and baking soda in your house, you already possess the supplies needed to clear a slow or clogged bathroom drain. These two items are safe for all types of piping systems – including septic – and can help flush away many tough blockages when used correctly with hot water. Thank you for reading, and we hope this guide was helpful!
