How to Unclog Your Drain Naturally

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.

Woman washing hands in Bathroom sink that is clogged

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 often 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.

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 in an inexpensive solution can resolve a very expensive problem. Let’s get right down to the issue now.

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.

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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 basically means that they can not loosen up built-up grease ad 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 (comes with high reviews) – I personally have not tried it myself. So I can not comment on its efficiency.

What you will need to unclog your drain

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

Baking Soda and Vinegar TOGETHER Produce Great Cleaning Results

Directions to unclog your drain

Carefully place the baking soda down the drain. I find it easiest to use a funnel. This way I know all the baking soda is in the place where I want it.

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. At this point, get your tea kettle out and start prepping for the last step. You will need boiling water.

After15 minutes, flush 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).

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

Now, using these same agents to unclog a bathroom sink, you can easily 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 cup 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! Smells be 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 below.

How to Unclog Your Drain Naturally – 2 Ingredients