why put salt down the drain

Will Pouring Salt Down My Drain Clean It? (Harmful or Helpful?)

Why put salt down the drain? Great question. Glad you asked.

Not long ago, stories on the internet trended with articles like, “Pour Salt Down Your Drain, Here’s Why!” But no one ever explained why.

This message has resulted in increased concerns regarding the actual benefits of putting salt down drains. Is there any true advantage to it? What does it do? And how, if at all, does it work? Can it cause damage to your plumbing? Let’s get some real answers.

Why Put Salt Down the Drain?

Here’s the truth. There is no evidence that putting salt down the drain will clean it or clear it. It’s just not advantageous to your plumbing system on its own. A common misconception is that because salt is gritty, it creates a scouring effect that scrapes material from your pipes (especially when flushed with boiling water).

In truth, a considerable amount of salt would be required to be abrasive to the entire interior of your pipelines.

But we don’t usually recommend dumping anything other than water down your drain pipes. There are some good natural drain cleaning remedies we endorse. Check them out in our “Related Resources” section below.

Are DIY Drain Cleaning Strategies Worth It?

That is debatable. If your drain has some debris or build-up along the inner walls and you want to get rid of the stink it’s causing, some home remedies can help. 

The absorbent qualities of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are well known in both household and business settings. Because boiling water and soap (or similar compounds, such as borax) are good at cutting through grease, a clog-causing agent, this could help avoid future blockages. 

Other than hot water, the combination of vinegar and baking soda is one of the few natural remedies that we approve of. But salt isn’t going to help much.

why put salt down the drain - use baking soda instead
Some DIY and home remedy drain cleaning strategies are worth trying. Like vinegar and baking soda. You can find baking soda here.

One solution is to mix a half cup of salt with a half cup of baking soda and pour the mixture down the drain. Wait thirty minutes (or overnight for a stubborn clog) before flushing the mixture down the drain with a pot of boiling water.

 In addition to salt, vinegar, and borax, other services use a similar combination of substances, such as salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar.

Watch this video for a much better solution than salt: boiling water and dish soap. Don’t try this unless your drain is made of metal or CPVC pipe, which is heat resistant. A PVC drain pipe might warp if you pour boiling down it for too long, causing it to burst.

What Else Should I Not Put Down the Drain?

Here’s a good list to get started with.

  • Grease. (together with fats and oils) is a leading cause of kitchen plumbing problems. Because these are binding agents, they will quickly clog pipes and drains after they cool down. Place these in jars or cans to cool before throwing them away.
  • Coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are hard on pipes and do not get thoroughly ground by garbage disposals, making them one of the most common reasons of kitchen sink clogs.
  • Flour. Making a sourdough starter in your kitchen sink drain is not recommended. Consider the consistency of bread dough: it’s basically just flour and water. Don’t drop flour down the drain to avoid clogging.
  • Eggshells. Similar to coffee grounds, eggshells are difficult to dispose of and can become lodged in viscous pockets of other tough-to-drain items.
  • Paper products. Non-toilet paper should be avoided at all costs, as any additional fibrous paper can cause a blockage. Paper towels, wipes, sanitary items, and packaging should never be flushed down the toilet since they will not dissolve without professional help.
  • Store-bought chemical cleaners. Do NOT use these type of cleaners. They don’t always work. More important, they can do more harm than good. These products are corrosive to your pipes and over time will cause damage and leaks.
why put salt down the drain - coffee grounds in sink
I’ve actually had someone tell me that coffee grounds make good drain cleaners. Just like salt, it’s not true. Let this myth die. They’re actually hard on your pipes and often cause kitchen sink clogs.

Final Thoughts

Move on to the next article if you run across advice telling you to put salt down your drain to clean it or unclog it. It’s simply not true. And like a lot of these items described above, they’re likely to cause more harm.

Combining vinegar with baking soda can really help deodorize a stinky, smelly drain. We recommend this method highly. But like most cleaning solutions, it may or may not actually unclog a blockage. Even so, it certainly won’t cause harm to your drains. So, try this before calling a plumber.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help clearing or cleaning a drain properly.

1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.

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