DIY Friday – Organic Drain Cleaning

DIY Friday is a feature that pops up every once and a while here on Stoney Acres.  We are BIG do-it-your-selfers around here so we will try to share some of our projects and tricks that we have learned over the years.  This week let’s talk about our organic drain cleaning method.

Baking Soda and Vinegar are used a lot around our place.  We are really not big chemical users.  Because of that soda and vinegar are used in place of cleaning chemicals and for many other uses.  One of our favorites is using baking soda and vinegar is organic drain cleaning.

Plugged or slow drains are a way of life for us.  With 4 girls in the family, all with long hair, the shower drains and bathroom sink drains are always getting clogged!

Most commercial drain cleaners are made with sulfuric acid.  Which is super poisonous, rough on your pipes and really bad for the environment.  We have found an organic drain cleaning method that works well and doesn’t damage your pipes or put our family’s health at risk.

All it takes is some vinegar, baking soda, and a pot of boiling water.  

This isn’t the perfect solution, it does work and it is the only drain-cleaning method we have used for over 5 years.  But it often takes 2 or 3 applications before the drain really gets cleaned out.  And you want to use this method while the drain is still working and just draining slowly.  I don’t think it would work on a 100% clogged drain and for sure it won’t work on a drain where there is standing water.  But any time we notice a drain is getting a little slow, one or two treatments with this Organic Drain Cleaner and you should be good to go.

Here’s what you do:

1.  If possible take the drain screen off and try and get some of the hair out first.  This isn’t always possible so don’t kill yourself trying to figure out how to get the drain cover off.

2.  Slowly pour a big pot of boiling water down the drain and let it drain down.  This soften things up and melts way soap and grease.

3.  Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain and let it sit for 5 minutes.

4.  Add 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar to the drain.  Quickly cover the drain with a towel and let it sit and bubble for 15 minutes.

5.  Next pour another pot of boiling water slowly down the drain.

6.  Repeat the whole process a couple of times if necessary.

7.  For really stubborn drains a plunger may help the process along.

Now I will be honest, we have never tried this on a drain that is 100% blocked.  I think you would need to get rid of any standing water and at least be able to get a little water flowing before you could really try this.  But it works wonders on slow drains.  It has never failed us on clearing out a very slow drain.  Some times it may take a treatment or two but it always gets the job done!

What other uses do you guys have for baking soda or vinegar.  I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments section!!