Five Homemade Drain Cleaners For Plumbing Drain Cleaning
The plumbing system is one of the most important and yet often the most ignored component of your house. From getting fresh water to your taps and shower to ensuring hygienic sewage disposal, your plumbing system makes life easier than you might realise. However, plumbing leaks and clogs are common problems that can turn your home into a breeding ground for bacteria.
But don’t worry! In the early stages of drain blockage, you can easily deal with them using ingredients you are likely to already have at home. This blog post details five homemade drain cleaners for plumbing drain cleaning that are not only easy and cheap to make but are extremely effective.
Five Drain Cleaners You Can Make With Ingredients You Have At Home
While it is common knowledge that chemical drain cleaners are very harsh, you may not be fully aware of the dangers it poses to yourself and your plumbing system. While they get the job done, chemical drain cleaners can cause significant damage to your pipes. Moreover, they create noxious fumes and may cause chemical burns even if you are careful. Not to mention that they often contain environmental pollutants and can lead to recurring clogs with repeated use.
Instead, take your plumbing drain cleaning into your own hands. Here are five homemade alternatives that are gentle, effective, and safe.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Drain Cleaner
● Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the clogged drain
● Follow it up with ½ cup of synthetic white vinegar
● Plug the drain and let it sit for 1 hour
● Finally, pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. Repeat if necessary.
Baking Soda and Lemon Juice Drain Cleaner
● Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the clogged drain
● Follow it up with ½ cup of lemon juice
● Plug the drain and let it sit for 1 hour
● Finish with a pot of boiling water.
Substituting vinegar with lemon juice is a good option if you prefer the smell of lemons to the smell of vinegar in your kitchen after plumbing drain cleaning. However, it can be a bit more expensive.
Baking Soda and Salt Drain Cleaner
● Mix ½ cup of table salt with ½ cup of baking soda. Pour the mixture into the clogged drain.
● Let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight if it is a stubborn clog.
● Follow it up with a pot of boiling water.
Baking Soda, Salt, and Cream of Tartar Drain Cleaner
● Pour ½ cup of baking soda, ½ cup of salt, and 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar in a sealable jar.
● Screw the lid on and shake to combine the ingredients.
● Pour half the mixture down the drain, saving the other half for later.
● Finish with a pot of boiling water.
● Let it sit for 1 hour, and run tap water to rinse any residual solution down.
Salt, Borax, and Vinegar Drain Cleaner
● Pour ¼ cup of salt down the drain
● Follow it up with ½ cup of Borax
● Finally, pour a pot of boiling water to flush the mixture down the drain.
● Let it sit for 1 hour or until the clog is cleared
● Run hot water down the drain to rinse any remaining solution down.
What To Do When Homemade Drain Cleaners Fail?
If your drain clogging issue persists even after trying out these homemade drain cleaners, the issue with your plumbing system is likely to be quite severe. Your best option in such a situation is to contact an optimised plumbing service for a thorough examination of your plumbing system.
Professional plumbers use various methods to unclog drains, such as:
● Drain snaking: A drain snake is a long, thin cable that is extended into a drain to break up or hook the clog using the pointed attachment at the end. They can be machine-operated or hand-cranked, depending on the length and diameter of your drain and the type of drain clog. Stubborn clogs that persist despite plunging can be removed using drain snakes.
● Drain auger: Handheld drain augers are largely similar to drain snakes. Both are flexible cable devices that are inserted into the drain and twisted to pierce or grasp the blockage. While drain snakes are used for smaller drains like kitchen or bathroom sinks, drain augers are used for blockages in larger pipes such as toilets or shower drains.
● Hydro jetting: Hydro jetting is a procedure that blasts water at a high pressure of up to 4000 psi to clean drains and disintegrate hard, stubborn blockages. Your plumber can optimise plumbing service in case of an increased risk of clog development by hydro-jetting to scour away stubborn buildup in your pipes. Hydrojetting is frequently used to address slow-moving drains and blocked sewage pipes.
Conclusion
Homemade drain cleaners are highly effective and cheap. They can be made easily with ingredients that are readily available in most homes. Substituting vinegar with lemon can also make your kitchen smell fresh and soothing.
However, if the block persists or recurs despite using these homemade drain cleaners, you may have a much more serious issue at hand. In such cases, contacting a professional plumbing drain cleaning service such as Guru Plumbing is your best bet. Their expertise in treating stubborn clogs enables them to get rid of hard and stubborn clogs with ease. Remember that regular plumbing inspections are crucial to maintaining a seamless and well-working plumbing system and can help you avoid expensive repairs in the future.
