Baking Soda + Vinegar as drain cleaner really works!

**midlight21** · 10-20-2011, 06:41 PM

Used that combo this morning to clear my bathroom sink of whatever was clogging it and it was REALLY clogged. I already had the stuff on hand and it sure beats 6-10 bux for a bottle of drano!

**Mrs K** · 10-20-2011, 07:18 PM

You can also do this to maintain your pipes clog-free.
I always pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain after doing the soda-vinegar treatment.
Indeed much better than the chemical ladden store bought stuff.

**mndtrp** · 10-20-2011, 07:59 PM

Yep, I've used it a few times with great results.

**MissSeetonFan** · 10-20-2011, 08:21 PM

Adding salt to the mix helps out tons too. The salt acts as the scrubbing agent as the foam mixture carries it up and down the pipes

**midlight21** · 10-20-2011, 09:41 PM

Oooohhh, thanks for the additional tip MissSeetonFan!

**ravenmaniac** · 10-21-2011, 08:38 PM

Yes it is awesome and much safer. I always pour a quart or two of boiling water down the drain afterwards.

I am glad to hear it worked for you!

**gottadance** · 12-30-2011, 12:01 PM

I have an almost completely clogged drain and tried max drano and nothing. I have used vinegar and baking soda as a drain refresher and for maintenance, but never to unclog. I'll give it a try today.

**Contrary Housewife** · 12-30-2011, 04:15 PM

What do you do if you can't get the baking soda into the drain? Mine has a plunger thingy that is only open about 1/4". It's constantly blocked up with gunk.

**ladytoysdream** · 12-30-2011, 05:40 PM

I use these little wire basket strainers in the drain opening. I find them in the dollar store. Keeps a lot of stuff from going down the drain. I figure the less that goes in our septic tank, the less times that we will have to have it pumped out.

When I use the baking soda, I let the vinegar run slowly from the bottle so the fizz action starts. I make sure I have a big pot of boiling water on the stove ready to go after the fizzing stops. Then I put more cold water down the drain. I have never used salt. I don't understand that method.

So the vinegar should break the stuff loose, and the water will move it down through the pipes. Never put grease down your drain. Once it gets cold, it will block things up bad. Scrap your pots and pans
before they go into the dishpan.
You probably should do this every other week, depending on what you let go down the drain. I don't it often, because of all the precautions I take. If you use vinegar in your coffee pot to clean that, then do the sink drain cleaning, with that same vinegar. Gets you 2x the use of it.

**gottadance** · 01-02-2012, 11:57 AM

Well, I tried vinegar/baking soda on my bathroom sink - no luck. I also just tried boiling water - no luck. Looks like I'll have to detach the elbow and clean it out - yuck!

**frugalfranny** · 03-15-2012, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

What do you do if you can't get the baking soda into the drain? Mine has a plunger thingy that is only open about 1/4". It's constantly blocked up with gunk.

I can answer that now............now that I had to blast out a tub drain.

My tub has the same thing......(you push it down when you want a bath).......you just try to put the soda as close as you can to the drain. I even used my fingers to push some of the dry soda down the drain. THEN pour in the vinegar, slowly.........

IT TOTALLY WORKED. And this thing was really plugged.........took forever for shower water to drain.

Now..........it took me three times..........and I did all the other drains in the house while I was at it.........but over a gallon of vinegar, and about 1 1/2 boxes of soda (used my old baking stuff first) later, I have drains that are working like they were new!!!

Love it.............and I had a plummer tell me, years ago, that Liq. Plummer is NOT the best stuff for your drains...........so I am sold on this idea!!!

**Beejay** · 03-19-2012, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by midlight21

Used that combo this morning to clear my bathroom sink of whatever was clogging it and it was REALLY clogged. I already had the stuff on hand and it sure beats 6-10 bux for a bottle of drano!

I don't know how to post this in the Question and Answer thread, so could someone please post the recipe/technique for the Baking soda + Vinegar drain opener ? Thanks !!!

**mndtrp** · 03-19-2012, 09:34 PM

Dump baking soda over the drain, slowly pour vinegar down the drain. If the bubbling stops, and the draining hasn't improved, repeat.

**frugalfranny** · 03-19-2012, 11:27 PM

Some articles will suggest starting with 1/2 cup soda...........if the drain is really plugged, I would start with more.

I tried the 1/2 cup of soda- then vinegar-then hot water--- and it didn't do much.........had to repeat it...........TWICE. The third time I let it sit, after putting the vinegar down drain, for a bit..........then flushed it with hot water..........it worked.

I am going to try to remember to do this about every other month or so...................just because!