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 Your Drain Naturally

If you haven’t heard this some from me already, I love to use simple and natural products around my home.

Chemicals are no longer the “in-thing”.  They hurt the environment, can be caustic to your health and can actually cost more money.  And oftentimes you realize that you do not need chemicals to clean your house at all. 

Going Green has many benefits. Not only can they be cheaper, but they are better for your health.

In my house, my master bathroom sink seems to get clogged a lot (my fault actually).  This is where I do my hair every day, right over the sink.  I actually sat down and started searching the internet for various ingredients that would unclog my stubborn hair infested sink.  

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.

Before Trying on Your Own Sink

This mixture is not a fat degreaser (FOG clog) and will not work on sinks that have been clogged grease. You will need a grease buster.

Why? 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 basically means that they can not loosen up built-up grease ad fat.

Have a difficult FOG (Fat, oil & grease) clog that hot 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 (comes with high reviews) – I actually have not tried it myself.

What you will need

• 1/2 cup of baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1 gallon boiling water

Baking Soda and Vinegar TOGETHER Produce Great Cleaning Results

Directions

Carefully place the baking soda down the drain. I find it easiest to use a funnel. 

Then pour in 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.  Then flush it with the boiling water.

Bonus: the weight of the hot water creates pressure on the clog which can help loosen or move it (all thanks to gravity).

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. This same recipe works AWESOME (Minus the boiling water) as a 3rd-grade science project, VOLCANO.

Freshen up your garbage disposable

Using these same agents to unclog a bathroom sink, can be used to freshen up your garbage disposal as well.  Often times I use fresh citrus rinds, but if something really harsh smelling lands in the disposal I need an extra boost to lift that smell. 

Clean up that disposable – quick steps

• First, start by running hot water through your garbage disposal side for about a minute. Then turn off.
• Then pour about 1/4 c. 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!

Other Great Home Cleaning Articles

How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets And Degrease All Naturally

10 Kid Safe Homemade Cleaning Products

Alka-Seltzer for Genius Solutions at Home