Unclog Drains at Home with Vinegar and Baking Soda DIY Treatments

Using Vinegar and Baking Soda to Unclog Drains

Dealing with a clogged drain can be a frustrating experience. The backed up water stops flowing down the pipes, leading to dirty standing water and strong odors. Calling a professional plumber can be expensive and time consuming. Many homeowners facing a stubborn clog decide to try do-it-yourself methods first before turning to professional help.

One popular home remedy for clearing clogs relies on two common household products that many people have on hand: vinegar and baking soda. Used together in the right way, this dynamic duo can break up gunk, hair, soap scum, and other debris to get your water flowing freely again.

How Vinegar and Baking Soda Unclog Drains

Vinegar and baking soda work well at busting through clogs for a few reasons:

• Vinegar is an acidic liquid that helps dissolve gunk, grime, hair, and mineral deposits inside pipes.
• Baking soda is alkaline. When combined with the acidic vinegar, it creates a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles.
• The foaming reaction creates pressure inside the pipes that helps dislodge and push through clogging debris.

By using these two common household staples together, you can harness the power of chemistry to break down the nastiest of clogs.

Choosing Your Vinegar and Baking Soda

For the best drain unclogging results, go with classic white distilled vinegar and plain baking soda. Stay away from baking soda formulations with added ingredients, which may cause unexpected chemical reactions. White vinegar offers the most acidic bang for your buck.

Always start your attempt by pouring baking soda down the drain first, followed by vinegar. Otherwise, the vinegar may react before reaching the clog area. Add about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, allowing it to make contact with the clogged zone. Then follow with 1 cup heated white vinegar to activate the reaction.

Unclogging a Bathtub Drain

Bathtub drains often get clogged with hair and soap residue. All that dirt collects just out of sight, under the drain cover. Hair tangles around the small openings, eventually forming an impenetrable mass. Soap scum accumulates from frequent bathing and sticks to the hair and pipes.

To unclog a stubborn bathtub drain the baking soda and vinegar way:

1. Start by taking off the drain cover plate. You may need a wrench to loosen built-up gunk. Check the openings and remove any hair or debris you can see.
2. Pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain opening.
3. Heat up 1 cup white vinegar until warm but not boiling. Carefully pour the warm vinegar down the drain.
4. Place the drain cover back on before the vinegar contacts the baking soda to help build pressure.
5. Let the mixture foam and bubble for 5-10 minutes. The chemical reaction breaks things up while the pressure moves debris along.
6. Flush with plenty of hot water. Foul odors should disappear if your drainpipe is clear.

Clearing a Clogged Kitchen Sink

Kitchen sinks deal with large amounts of gunk daily from food particles to grease and oil. Over time, all that stuff builds up on pipe walls and hardens. Eventually, the narrow pipe opening gets blocked.

Follow these steps to unclog a kitchen drain without calling a plumber:

1. Remove the drain basket and extract any visible hunks of food, hair, or other debris.
2. Pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the kitchen sink drain.
3. Boil a tea kettle of water. Carefully pour about 1 cup of the hot water down the drain on top of the baking soda.
4. Let it bubble and react for 10-15 minutes.
5. Pour another kettle full of hot water down the drain to flush things out.
6. Follow with cold water and check the flow.

The combination of heat plus chemical reaction gives you a good shot at busting through nasty kitchen clogs.

When to Call for Professional Drain Service

While the vinegar and baking soda method works wonders for clearing minor clogs, don't hesitate to call a professional plumber if you continue experiencing drain issues after trying several home treatments. A severe clog may require mechanical snaking to fully clear out the pipes.

Signs it’s time to contact a pro include:

• Water drains very slowly or starts pooling around drains.
• Attempting treatments multiple times with no improvement.
• Bad odors continue emanating from drains.
• You experience a sewer line backup.
• DIY methods fail to fully restore proper water flow.

A reputable plumbing company has the high-powered equipment and expertise to fully clear out your home’s plumbing system from clogs, restore free flowing pipes, and prevent future problems. Investing in professional drain cleaning services can save money, health hazards, and hassles down the road.

Preventing Future Clogged Drains

A few easy habits can help keep your drains free of obstructions between professional cleanings:

• Use drain catchers in sinks and tubs.
• Limit oil and grease poured down sinks.
• Run drains with hot water weekly.
• Use hair catchers to trap strands.
• Avoid flushing wipes or hygiene products.

Vinegar and baking soda offer an affordable, non-toxic way for do-it-yourselfers to battle simple clogged drains at home. However, if your pipes need more serious attention, rely on the power of professional plumbing services.

FAQs

Why does my bathtub drain get clogged so often?

Bathtub drains commonly get clogged with hair and soap buildup. All that gunk eventually blocks the drain, stopping water from flowing freely.

What ratio of baking soda and vinegar should I use?

Use approximately 1/2 cup baking soda poured down the drain first, followed by 1 cup heated white vinegar to activate the chemical reaction that helps clear debris.

How long should I let the baking soda and vinegar work before rinsing?

Let the foamy reaction boil and bubble for 5-15 minutes before running hot water to flush out the drain system.

Why call a plumber instead of using home remedies?

If DIY treatments fail to fully restore proper drainage, the clog may require professional mechanical drain snaking to clear out the pipe system.