Having a clogged drain is just about the worst thing that can happen in your day-to-day. Water backflows, and so do all the food particles, dirt, grime, and dust that have been washed off in it. It is much worse if you can’t seem to get the drain working after plunging your hand into the dirty sink, or bathtub, to try and clear out the drain - but it just won’t work.
Don’t worry; it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It has happened to all of us. But, if you need an urgent fix to solve your drain issues, here are three homemade drain cleaning solutions that you can whip up at home, in seconds, with everyday household items.
1. Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
The recipe will call for equal parts baking soda to lemon juice, with a 1/2 cup to 1/2 cup ratio enough to clear out one drain. Essentially, you first pour the baking soda and then follow it up with the lemon juice. Then, plug the drain and allow the solution to sit for at least an hour. Once the wait is up, pour boiling water down the drain. The baking soda will be activated by the acid in the lemon juice and will cause a bubbling chemical reaction that will be enough to lift off any gunk that is blocking your drain. You can opt to repeat this process a few times for maximum results.
2. Baking Soda and Vinegar
Like the previous solutions, this recipe also calls for a one-to-one ratio, where 1/2 cup of baking soda and another 1/2 cup of vinegar should be enough to clear one drain. Similar to the previous procedure, pour baking soda into the drain and follow it up with vinegar. Then, plug the drain and allow the solution to sit for one hour. After waiting, pour boiling water down the drain.
The science in this procedure is like the last one, where the chemical reaction caused by the baking soda being activated by the acid of the vinegar causes the gunk to lift and drain from the sink. However, this solution, while cheaper than the lemon solution, will leave a distinct vinegar smell that may last from a couple of hours to even days.
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3. Baking Soda and Salt
The last solution is a mix of baking soda and salt. The recipe requires a one-to-one ratio of both salt and baking soda, with 1/2 cup of table salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda enough to clear up one drain.
Mix both salt and baking soda and pout into the drain. Then, let it sit for at least 30 minutes or overnight if it is a nasty clog. Make sure the tap is not turned on during this resting period. Once the timer sets off, pour boiling water down the drain. You may then repeat this process a couple of times, depending on the severity of the clog.
These homemade drain solutions are great fixes, especially for light clogs. These cool concoctions will leave your home smelling fresh and clean, too. However, not all clogged sinks or tubs are treatable this way, as some may have more severe blockages or other deeper issues. In this case, it is best to seek help from professional plumbers who can diagnose your drain issues with a sewer camera inspection.
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