Clogged drain pipe? Don't worry, you can make your own solution to smooth it out using salt and vinegar. The combination of abrasive salt with the cleaning power of vinegar will clear up even the most stubborn of clogs. In addition to these two ingredients, you will also need to add boiling water which will push the solution through the pipe.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using a Salt and Vinegar Solution
Step 1. Stir in the salt and vinegar
Pour 1 cup of salt into a small bowl. Add 1 cup vinegar. Stir well until the salt absorbs all the vinegar. Keep stirring until the solution is smooth and even.
- Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice and mix well to make the paste more effective at clearing clogged drains thanks to the acidity of the lemon juice.
- If the clogged part is deep inside the pipe, or if you didn't add lemon juice, just add more vinegar to make the paste runny and easier to drain.
Step 2. Pour the solution into the drain
First, open the drain cover. Then, pour the solution directly into the pipe. Fill the entire drain so that the clogged part absorbs the solution. Allow up to 15 minutes to allow the clogged area to absorb as much of the solution as possible. For stubborn blockages, let the solution sit for 30 minutes.
If you can't open the drain plug, add vinegar to the solution before pouring it to make the solution thinner
Step 3. Rinse the drain with boiling water
Boil two glasses of water in a saucepan. Then, pour the water directly into the drain. Pour slowly so the water doesn't splash back and hurt you. In addition, by pouring water slowly, you can also direct the water directly into the drain instead of scattering it all over the sink which will instead absorb heat and cool the water before it reaches the clogged area.
Use boiling water, not hot water from the tap, as the tap water will take more time to react
Method 2 of 3: Mixing Baking Soda, Salt and Vinegar
Step 1. Pour all the ingredients into the drain
Use a cup or taper-mouthed glass to mix the ingredients. Pour in 1/2 cup of baking soda. Add 1/4 cup salt. Stir well. Open the drain cover, if any. Then, pour the solution into the drain.
Step 2. Add warm vinegar
Heat 1 cup of vinegar in the microwave or on the stove. After boiling, pour the vinegar into the drain. Immediately cover the drain with a lid, with a stopper, or with the bottom of the glass you mixed the solution in, as the baking soda will make the vinegar foam and foam. For best results, try to keep the reaction in the duct as much as possible.
Step 3. Rinse the drain with boiling water
Wait 15 minutes for the clogged area to absorb as much of the solution as possible. For stubborn blockages, wait up to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Once the clogged area has absorbed the solution, unscrew the drain and pour boiling water into it to rinse, followed by a hot shower from the faucet.
Method 3 of 3: Using Salt Only
Step 1. Pour the salt into the drain
While the acid from vinegar can help loosen oil and other clogs, salt can also help clean the inside of pipes because it's abrasive and abrasive. Prepare 1/2 cup salt. Then, pour it directly into the drain.
Step 2. Rinse the drain with boiling water
Boil 2 liters of water first. Pour into the channel. Run the water straight down the drain so you don't get splashed back. Once the boiling water has run out, run the hot water out of the faucet to further rinse the drain.
Step 3. Repeat
Since this step uses only salt, you'll likely need to do it several times to completely remove the clogged part. Add another cup of salt, rinse with hot water, then repeat the same steps until the drain is completely smooth. Don't add too much salt at once.
Tips
- Repeat the same steps if the drain is still clogged.
- These steps are safe to use for septic tank disposal systems.
- Always use boiling water to rinse the drain, not cold or lukewarm water, because the hotter the water, the more easily the oil that clogs the drain will dissolve.
- For stubborn blockages, run boiling water down the drain before you pour the solution to loosen and remove more oil so the solution can reach a wider area in the pipe.
- If necessary, perform the steps above while poking the drain with a straight wire to remove clumps of hair or other solid debris that clogs up.
