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Cleaning blocked pipes really is quite a nasty job. But you cannot just leave it be, as it can easily turn into a disaster.
You have tried many chemicals, but still, it seems like something’s missing. You somehow want to avoid calling the plumber, but are not actually sure what to do.
Then you start looking for some DIY solutions and suddenly you find out that you can actually use some ingredients that you never believe could work with this. For example, some people claim you can unclog drain with baking soda and salt.
Perhaps the initial impression may be scepticism, but still, curiosity seems to be stepping in and you decide to investigate a bit on this interesting suggestion. For that reason, I did a brief research and here’s what I discovered!
The powerful mixture of baking soda and salt
The thing with homemade solutions is that they should actually be the first line of defence for fighting obstructed pipes.
People mostly reach for some heavy and hazardous chemicals, but the solution is actually closer than you can imagine. Some of them even call the plumber immediately, without even trying to see if some simple stuff could work.
Baking soda is perhaps the most effective weapon you have, without even being aware of its “superpowers”. You usually mix it with some other ingredients (in this case salt) and you increase its strength.
When trying to unclog the drains, you need the following:
- One cup of baking soda
- Half a cup of salt
This is a basic recipe but the amount of mixture depends on the severity of the problem in your pipes. Sometimes this quantity is more than enough, but in cases where clogs are really persistent, you will need two or three measures.
How to unclog a drain with baking soda and salt?
The first step is making the combination. As you can see, it’s really nothing complicated. Even those who make it for the first time can do it easily.
You can use this mixture for the bathroom or kitchen sink. Pour it into the drains and leave it for at least two or three hours. This is the most important moment, as it works only if you use it properly.
It takes some time, particularly if the obstruction is heavier, so you need to leave it to work for some time. This mix actually disintegrates the clog and softens it so that it can go away easier.
What comes after is hot water. Pour it down the drains and your problem aka the clog should be gone forever. It sounds impossible, but this simple idea usually solves the majority of issues of this kind.
More DIYs - baking soda and vinegar for unclogging
Like I said in the beginning, you don’t have to reach for heavy chemicals to solve the problems when there are so many helpful ingredients all around. I shall give you one more recipe which works fine as well. You need the following:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
Again, the quantity will depend on the severity of the problem, but I shall describe the procedure with some basic amount that does the job in most cases.
The first thing to do is pour the boiling water into the drain to soften the pipes a bit. Then dump half a cup of baking soda and let it work for several minutes. The next step is adding a mixture of vinegar and hot water (a cup of each).
Then use the drain plug to cover it, as the reaction has to remain below the surface in order to work properly. Ten minutes later flush it again with hot water and- voila! The clog’s gone!
WHAT is actually the secret of this simple yet efficient combination?
Adding one by one ingredient the way I instructed you here is actually making the precise chemical reaction needed to loosen up the grimy sludge and all the nasty things stuck inside.
Soda and water loosen it and vinegar jolts it all loose. The final step, hot water, takes all that to a journey with no return!
More Homemade solutions - unclog drains with salt and hot water
Here comes another cool recipe to try out before you lose all your nerves and call a plumber. It costs nothing to try out any of these, and the result (in most cases) is a solved problem and saved money.
The following requires nothing more than salt and boiling water. The procedure is pretty much the same as the one I described in the previous section.
Pour hot water down the drain and add salt. Leave it for several minutes and then pour a great amount of boiling water into the pipes again.
This mixture is fine for some mild clogs and it is perhaps a bit less strong than the previous one. It is always better to mix it with another ingredient (preferably baking soda) in order to intensify its power and strength.
Do homemade solutions for unclogging obstructed drains always work?
I must make one thing clear now. These ideas that I’ve described here (and several similar) usually work for clogs of organic origin. This means the one built from soap scum, grease, hairs and so on.
They soften the obstruction and by loosening it up to make it possible for it to go through the pipe. Of course, provided that you use hot water along with them.
Even though these solutions truly work like magic, their powers are not unlimited. This means you cannot expect them to disintegrate an object that is stuck in your toilet.
These issues require a different approach and adequate tool. There are also many DIY ideas here, but the point is that you should know what to expect when using any of the methods.
So, the answer would be yes, they work fine, but only if you know when and HOW TO use them!
The benefits of DIY fixes for blocked pipes
Come to think of these ideas, you inevitably see numerous positive sides in various aspects. Let us list some of them I believe to be the most important ones:
1. Budget-friendly solution
This is one of the best pros of using any of the methods I’ve described. Those are the ingredients you already have at home which means you don’t have to spend a single coin and you can have your problem removed.
2. Simple to use
While many of the chemicals are quite a puzzle sometimes, these ideas are really not complicated at all. You just pour, leave it be, and add water- could it be simpler than that!
3. No limits in usage
When using chemicals, the instructions say that you should use them like this or that, once a week/month and never mix them with other liquids and similar. Homemade solutions have neither of the restrictions.
This means you can try them out several times in a row without worrying that you can harm your health. As a matter of fact, you can use some of these recipes as prevention of severe clogging.
4. Not hazardous
Again, the problem with the majority of chemicals is that they can be dangerous for one’s health and the environment. The problem gets even bigger if you don’t follow the instructions and pour more than recommended. In addition to this, the homemade solutions are safe for people with allergies or those sensitive to heavier odors.
These are just some of the good sides. As for the bad sides, well, there are none. You cannot make a catastrophe if you don’t use it properly, the only result will be an unsolved problem.
And that’s not something that is potentially dangerous to your health, environment or budget. You just need to try again, that’s all.
Final thoughts: Unclog Drain with Baking Soda and Salt
As you could see, there are indeed many simple and effective solutions for treating obstructions in pipes.
All the ingredients are the ones you already use on daily basis, you just didn’t know they could work fine for this situation as well. I have described some recipes here, but there are much more available.
The most important to realize here is that you should always reach for any of these prior to trying to fix the issue with dangerous liquids or calling a plumber. But do know that if the problem is beyond the limits of your powers, these two naturally come as the next step.
The homemade solutions have multiple benefits, so no one should have the slightest doubt whether to at least try any of them. But, again, if they won’t work, then hire a professional - that’s what they exist for!
I really hope that this guide on ideas to unclog drains with baking soda and salt was of help to you. I wish you plenty of luck and patience with this unpleasant duty.
