Do you have a blocked drain, but don’t want to buy the usual harsh chemical cleaners? Luckily, there are many natural solutions that can be made from products you already have at home.
Chemical drain cleaners are not great for the environment, or your pipes. And, if they come into contact with your skin, you can experience burns or nausea. There is also the risk that chemicals going down your pipes, eventually end up affecting plants and the local wildlife. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some non-toxic drain cleaners you can make yourself.
The Best DIY Non-Toxic Drain Cleaners
Wire Coat Hanger
If your drain has backed up, a good way to shift the blockage is by using a wire coat hanger. Straighten out the hanger, but leave a small hook at one end. Carefully push the snake down the pipe and try and hook out any debris. Pull the debris up and dispose of it. Repeat and flush through with hot water.
Hot Water and Dish Soap
This method is best used for grease clogs. This is because hot water will heat the grease up again, melting it and allowing it to flow away. Boil 2 litres of water and mix in some dish soap. Slowly pour it down the sink in stages. Repeat a few times until the water runs freely.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Clear any visible debris from around the sink plughole. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes. Lastly, pour hot water down the sink until it runs clear.
Salt, Borax and Vinegar
Mix a ¼ cup of borax, a ¼ cup of salt and a ½ cup of vinegar together. Pour the mixture into the drain and follow with a pot of boiling water. Let the mixture sit for at least an hour or until you notice it clears.
Baking Soda and Salt
Mix ½ a cup of salt and ½ a cup of baking soda together. Pour the mixture into the drain and let it sit for half an hour or even overnight for stubborn clogs. Lastly, add a pot of boiling water and the drain should clear through.
Plunger
The final tactic to clear a blocked drain naturally, is the good old fashioned plunger. This works particularly well for kitchen sinks, when food gets stuck in the curved pipe underneath, which is hard to reach with a coat hanger.
Add a little warm water into the sink and cover the plughole with your rubber plunger to create a seal. Pump the plunger for around 20 seconds. Remove the plunger and test to see if the blockage is removed. If not, repeat the process.
Still having problems? Contact Sweeney’s Plumbing Service your local expert plumbers for assistance.