How to Unclog Your Drain Naturally – 2 Ingredients
Want to naturally unclog your drain or clean a slow-moving drain? Use this handy homemade drain cleaner recipe to clear up clogs fast. This mixture will not work on FOG (Fat, Oil, or Grease) clogs.
How to Unclog A Drain Without Chemicals
If you haven’t heard this from me already, I love to use simple and natural products around my home. Baking soda is a kitchen staple that can work wonders on smelly and clogged drains. We use it to cook, clean, and deodorize. Chemicals are no longer the “in-thing”.
They hurt the environment, can be caustic to your health, and can cost more money. And often you realize you do not need chemicals to clean your house at all.
If we allow a blockage to build up, it can lead to burst pipes and an expensive visit from a professional plumber. We can’t have that at all. A simple and inexpensive solution can resolve a very expensive problem. Let’s get right down to the issue now.
This recipe is a combination of others I found from my search on Pinterest. I have tried many recipes out there and I decided to do my own investigating and came up with this combo. I love it because it works like a charm. You can order your baking soda online and at a great price here.
Read More Home Keeping Hacks on Inspiring Savings
Before Trying
This mixture is not a fat degreaser (FOG clog) and will not work on sinks that have been clogged with grease. You will need a grease buster.
Why this will not work on a grease clog, — Baking soda is a base while vinegar is an acid, their chemical reaction produces water with a tiny amount of salt in it, not a fat-destroying drain cleaner.
Plus, vinegar and baking soda are not surfactants. This means that they can not loosen up built-up grease and fat. Have a difficult FOG (Fat, oil & grease) clog that boiling water doesn’t solve & this mixture will not take care of? Try an enzyme drain cleaner such as Earth Enzymes Drain Opener or Biokleen Drain Gel.
I also found this fun gadget that may do the trick (it has high reviews). However, I have not tried it myself, so I can not comment on its efficiency.
What you will need
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1-gallon boiling water
Directions to unclog your drain
Carefully pour the baking soda down the drain. I find it easiest to use a funnel. This way, I know all the baking soda is where I want it.
Then, pour half the vinegar down the drain, making sure that the top is fully covered. This will allow it to work on the drain and not allow it to rise out.
Let it sit until it settles, then add the rest of the vinegar. Let it sit for roughly 15 minutes. At this point, get your tea kettle out and start prepping for the last step. You will need boiling water. After 15 minutes, flush the drain with the boiling water.
Bonus: The weight of the boiling water creates pressure on the clog, which can help loosen or move it (all thanks to gravity). This same method works almost the same for your shower drain – here are helpful tips to unclog a shower drain.
I have only used this recipe in my bathroom sinks. Luckily, I have not had to deal with a clogged shower drain, but I am sure it will work the same.
I created this all-natural degreaser that is safe to use on cabinets and works like a charm.
Use In Your Garbage Disposable
Now, using these same agents to unclog a bathroom sink, you can easily freshen up your garbage disposal as well. Often, I use fresh citrus rinds, but if something harsh-smelling lands in my disposal, I need an extra boost to lift that smell.
How To Clean Garbage Disposal
- First, start by running hot water through your garbage disposal side for about a minute. Then turn it off.
- Then pour about 1/4 cup of baking soda into the drain.
- Flip the garbage disposal on for 2 seconds, just to whirl the baking soda inside, and then leave it alone for 10-15 minutes.
- Follow with 1 cup of vinegar. Watch the bubbles erupt out of your drain. (Yay!)
- Rinse through one last time with very hot water and run your garbage disposal for a few more seconds. Viola! The smells are gone!
If you have tried this method at home to unclog one of your drains (not caused by grease) we would love to know how it worked for you. Leave us a comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will dissolve hair in a drain?
This remedy will not dissolve hair, but you can try an enzyme drain cleaner such as Earth Enzymes Drain Opener or Biokleen Drain Gel.
Is it safe to use this method if I have a septic system?
Yes. It’s safe to use the ingredients if you have a septic system. The ingredients degrade rapidly and will not harm the bacteria in your tank. Plus, they are all-natural.
What should happen if my clog becomes worse after using this method?
This may happen when a partially dissolved clog gets lodged further down the pipe. We recommend trying it again a second time. However, if the problem continues to persist, you should call a plumber, as there are some plumbing situations this will not work.
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Hi Jen,I’m interested in your article bout clogged bathroom sink and gonna try it out tomorrow, I’ve got plenty of vinegar, but no baking soda,,Thanks for your help, now I hope it works, and I wish I could do that to my head lolz, I have constant sinus infections and a lot of draining and drooling to the last 6 months or more, I been to Doc and all they do is give me more antibiotics, and they don’t do anything but make me feel worse stomach cramps inflammation uggg😔✌️🌹💜
Try a Bathtub Mushroom to prevent hair clogs. Works like a dream! I clean mine with toilet paper every week to keep it clean.
Thanks so much for your suggestion, Janet!
Worked great on my kids’ sink! Thank you.
AWESOME!!! I am excited to hear the news. Thank you for letting me know.
Yeah well I just cracked my sink. Don’t do this with boiling water if you have a porcelain sink. Ughhhhhhhh
I am so sorry to hear this. We are appreciative of your comment. This is a good warning for others to heed, especially those who have porcelain sinks.
Thank you so much for your help with my slow bathroom drain. Two days ago I tried the baking soda and salt method and boiling water , but unfortunately it didn’t work for my bathroom sink. BUT today, Oct 27, 2022, I followed your instructions using your baking soda and vinegar method, and of course, I used the boiling water as well. Holy Smokes, I never use that term, IT WORKED, YEAH. My sister did the digging out of drain and brought up all this yucky hair, black stuff too, just as you said. The bad part about our drain is that you can’t pull out the stopper, which made it hard to get the baking soda down there, but I pushed and pushed. Thank you again. P. S. I found you on Pinterest. Marianne 🦇🎃😊
Marianne!!!! This just brightened my day up! I am so happy this method worked for you!!! Isn’t it the best when you find that one trick that just did it! Thank you for letting me know. It blesses my heart!
It’s good to know that a baking soda and vinegar solution can’t clear out a grease clog. My mom’s kitchen sink is super clogged and I think it’s because she has been dumping grease down it my whole life. I would like to get a plumber in there to look at it.
Hi Jen,
I used your method and it works! I used it in my kids bathroom, they have lots of hair and long, one of them being my son. I usually got under the sink and took it apart and cleaned the plumbing that way, i was dreading it because those smells are awful and contents are disgusting.
Thank you so much for sharing this, i will keep it for the future 😁
Great News, Ana! I am so happy to hear this did the trick. Isn’t that smell awful. I know exactly what you are talking about. GAG!!! Thank you for coming back and leave me a comment.
Great article! This method is worth to try and it is very effective for me. I’ll recommend this kind of method for my friends. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Jen, you have shared really good and helpful information about the blocked drain. I will use these points and will recommend them to my sister. Keep sharing!
I just used this in my br sink and it works great! I’d love to get the drain thing out to clean it. I’m sure the clog is from hair, but my hair is not black, but the gunk is black and doesn’t look like hair at all. Is that normal? Thanks for sharing!
Yes, this is 100% all normal that black build-up is a combination of mold, skin cells, soap scum, decomposing hair, etc.. I am so happy to hear it worked for you…
Hi, I went with the ole stand by baking soda n vinegar, didn’t budge 😩. I am very careful to watch what goes into my sink, but I’m guessing a few things got away. I have no garbage disposal so it’s nothing on that side, just a double sink. Do you have any other suggestions???
Hi Jean,
This sounds as if this is your kitchen sink? Is this correct? This won’t help if you have a FOG (Fat, oil & grease) clog. Try an enzyme drain cleaner such as Earth Enzymes Drain Opener or Biokleen Drain Gel. Both are great and safe.
This is some really good information about blocked drains. My master bathroom sink has been clogging for several weeks now. I might need to try the thing out. Or at the very least call a plumber to come to unclog my sink.