Natural Drain Cleaner - Homemade Solutions and Methods

Do you wish to make your own natural drain cleaner?

A clogged drain can be a headache to anyone. While there are many wonderful products on the market guaranteed to unclog a drain, many of these products contain chemicals which can be hazardous.

Also, calling a plumber can become an expensive proposition. You do have an alternative, however. There are many common household items you can use to make a natural drain cleaner that is guaranteed to work.

First, just like a clogged toilet, you can try a little elbow grease and a plunger to get the sink unstopped. The air pressure caused by using the plunger can either loosen the clog enough to break it up with water, or it can force the clog loose, unstopping the drain. Also, with natural drain cleaners, you may still need to use the plunger to get the clog to let go (something you may be hesitant to do with chemical drain cleaners found in most stores).

Probably the most common natural drain cleaner is a combination of baking soda and vinegar. When your sink stops up, bail out as much water as possible. Then pour approximately 1 cup of baking soda directly down the drain followed by one cup of vinegar. Plug the drain immediately to keep it from bubbling out into the sink. You want the bubbles to go into the drain, working on the clog, not spreading out in the sink. Wait approximately 30 minutes and then run hot water into the sink. If the clog has not loosened, repeat this step until you have the drain cleared.

For another great all natural drain cleaner, pour 1/4 cup salt and one cup baking soda down the drain and let it sit for several minutes. Boil one cup of vinegar and one cup of water (you can do this in the microwave; however, be careful of boiling liquids in microwaves). Pour the boiling water / vinegar mixture down the drain and let mixture bubble for several minutes. Keep repeating until the clog is completely cleared. The salt and baking soda act as abrasives which will scour the clog, while the vinegar causes the mixture to expand, creating pressure to break the clog loose.

One of the easiest ways to clear a drain is to take preventive measures before a clog can occur. You can do this by running hot water (let the water get as hot as the tap will allow, or boil water) down the drain at least one time per week. The hot water will dislodge any grease or grime that may be clinging to the pipes.

Another great preventive measure is to put one tablespoon of baking soda followed by 1/4 cup of vinegar down the drain at least one time per week, then rinse with hot water. This will also dislodge any grease or grime on the pipes, keeping them from building up into a clog.

To keep the drains from developing a grease clog, you can treat the pipes with a strong salt water mixture poured down the drain. This will not only unclog a sink (or keep a clog from forming), it will also deodorize the drain.

For natural drain cleaners that call for using vinegar, you can substitute lemon juice. Not only will the lemon juice create the same reaction as the vinegar, it will help deodorize the drain, eliminating some of the foul odors that a clogged drain can cause.

When you have a clogged drain, look in your kitchen cabinets before you go out to purchase an expensive, chemical filled solution that may be harmful to your and your family's health. With these natural drain cleaners, you can unclog that drain and help keep poisonous chemicals from entering the environment.

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