How To Naturally Unclog A Drain (No Harsh Chemicals!)
Is there a safe, sure-fire way to naturally unclog a drain?
We get it; no one wants to call their plumber every time a drain gets clogged. Nor do you need to. But with so many DIY products on the shelf, choosing one can be confusing.
Although, it’s hard to know which one will do the trick by (1) not wasting your money, (2) not causing more harm to your pipes, and ultimately (3) getting rid of the grease or other debris that’s bringing your drain to a standstill.
Above all, here’s the good news. We have quick, easy answers to your questions, including how to naturally unclog a drain. Now, let’s get your drain unclogged.
How to Naturally Unclog a Drain in 4 Steps
Firstly, let’s start with the best natural drain cleaning solution. Using natural or organic methods for clearing out a clog is always the best first step.
Undoubtedly, this natural method for clearing out small or mild drain clogs is nearly fool proof. You won’t need any special plumbing tools, experience, or elbow grease.
Step 1: Grab These Items
On the positive side, everything you need is in your house. Just grab these items to get started.
- Baking soda
- Large pot of boiling water
- Vinegar
Step 2: Pour Boiling Water Down Drain
Boil a large pot full of water, then carefully pour it into your clogged drain.
If the clog is located in your plumbing’s P-trap, there’s a good chance the boiling water will dissolve and clear out the clog. It is particularly helpful with clogs created by grease and soap buildup.
CAUTION:
Before you do this, make sure that your drain doesn’t use plastic (PVC) pipes. The temperature of boiling water at sea level is 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). The higher above sea level, the lower the temperature needed to boil water. Consequently, PVC pipe gets soft at 175 degrees Fahrenheit. So boiling water can cause damage to plastic pipes and seals.
PRO TIP:
Make sure you pour the drain straight down the drain…not from an angle. With this intention, you can help prevent any splashing of boiling water onto your hands or face.
Step 3: Add Baking Soda & Vinegar
Now it’s time to get witchy by brewing a natural concoction of baking soda and vinegar. Here’s what you do and how you do it:
- Add 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water
- Add 1 cup of baking soda to your vinegar/water potion and mix together
- Pour this magical potion down your drain
- Put the plug or cover back on the drain, and wait 10 minutes
As a result, these two main ingredients (baking soda is a base, vinegar is an acid) will react and create a bubbling action. This organic reaction helps loosen the clog that, hopefully, has already been loosened a bit from the boiling water.
Step 4: Add More Boiling Water
After you’ve given it 10 minutes — enough time for the bubbling action of your baking soda/vinegar brew to work its magic — repeat Step 1.
After you’ve poured more boiling water down the drain, simply test the handiwork of this natural remedy for unclogging a drain. Remove the drain cover and turn on your water.
In conclusion, if water drains efficiently, pat yourself on the back for unclogging your drain naturally. No harm chemicals, no plumber’s tools, just good ole ingredients from Mother Nature.
Watch How with This Video
Which Drain Cleaning Product Works Best?
Overall, this is the easiest answer I’ll ever provide in one of our DIY blogs. So, which chemical drain cleaning product works best on clogs?
Answer: NONE
I mean this seriously. We never recommend using a store-bought drain cleaner. Altogether, drain cleaners created by manufacturers are more expensive solutions that are made with highly corrosive, man-made chemicals. While they “might” temporarily fix your clog, they will also damage your pipes over time.
Consequently, that can lead to a serious water damage problem — burst pipes or water leaks behind walls and under floorboards — that could cost you thousands of dollars.
5 Natural Remedies for a Sink Drain That Smells
All in all, watch this video for safe, natural methods of deodorizing your kitchen or bathroom sink drain. Often, biofilm collects (scum, debris, and bacteria) on the inside drain walls or your garbage disposal blades. Using these 5 natural deodorizer methods — from ice cubes to mouthwash to cleaning brushes — you can quickly remove those foul odors.
FAQs: How to Naturally Unclog a Drain
Here’s the bottom line. Feel free to pour boiling water down any drain that is unclogged or not made of plastic (or PVC, a type of plastic used in plumbing). If it’s clogged, the boiling water will be trapped and cause the plastic to soften. This can lead to a burst pipe or leaks from the pipe or the seals and fittings. If a metal drain (such as steel, iron or copper), there’s no harm using boiling water, even if the drain is clogged.
If you want to do this naturally, then use the same method applied in this article. Simply pour boiling water down the, wait a bit longer (more like 30 minutes), then use your baking soda and vinegar solution. Follow that up with more boiling water. If this doesn’t work, call a trusted local plumber.
Yes, it can. But we don’t recommend this solution. Salt is abrasive, meaning it can damage the interior surface of your pipe. For example, if the abrasions create pockmarks on the inside of a plastic pipe, debris can more easily cling to the pipe surface and create more clogs in the future. Also, you may have to use this technique several times for it to work, which increases the odds of abrasions.
No. These are natural ingredients and are harmless to all types of drains and pipes, including PVC pipes.
Yes, it can hurt your PVC pipes. If your clogged drain uses plastic piping, avoid using this boiling water method. Although you probably won’t cause damage to the pipe, it’s possible that the clog will trap the boiling water. This gives it enough time to soften the pipe, creating warps or other damage now or down the road.
Our expert opinion is it’s never okay. Chemical drain cleaners are more corrosive, toxic, expensive, and often don’t work as advertised.
Conclusion: How to Naturally Unclog a Drain
If you need to unclog a drain but are concerned with what you put down your pipes, then you should follow the above step-by-step instruction on how to naturally unclog a drain.
In addition, it will save you time and money, keep your family safe from corrosive chemicals, and prevent weakening of your pipes.
For more resources on this and other solutions, read the following related stories:
- 5 Easy Ways to Unclog a Kitchen Sink
- How to Use a Drain Snake to Unclog a Bathroom Sink
- How to Unclog Hair from Drain (2 Tips)
- 5 Ways to Clean Hair Out of Your Shower Drain
Call 1-Tom-Plumber
In conclusion, if you have a clogged drain that you can’t handle — don’t feel bad, everyone’s been there — our professional drain technicians are ready to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237).
We immediately respond to and handle any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, and water damage problem, including excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines.
