Recipe
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Boiling water
One of the things I hate the most about apartments are clogged drains. They always happen, no matter what you do. I also have no idea how so much two foot long hair gets down in the drains, mine certainly isn't that long.
There are many products, each more caustic than the other, that you can use to clean out these drains, and they can do wonders if your drains are first world high quality drains. Of course, not all drains in first world countries are high quality or first world level. I still remember pouring a bottle of Draino down a drain in a house in California, United States and having the pipes in the wall dissolve and leak. Since I started travelling the world, I have seen drains in even worse shape.
There is also a danger of the drain cleaner not working and leaving a sink or shower full of hazardous caustic chemicals. Most plumbers I've met will refuse to work on a drain if you've used drain cleaner.
There is a method to clean drains that is safer on pipes and doesn't have the dangers of caustic chemicals. I originally found it on some of those crunchy eco-hippy sites, but it does usually work (Bob Vila convinced me to try it). It's also good as a monthly maintenance clean.
There are many products, each more caustic than the other, that you can use to clean out these drains, and they can do wonders if your drains are first world high quality drains. Of course, not all drains in first world countries are high quality or first world level. I still remember pouring a bottle of Draino down a drain in a house in California, United States and having the pipes in the wall dissolve and leak. Since I started travelling the world, I have seen drains in even worse shape.
There is also a danger of the drain cleaner not working and leaving a sink or shower full of hazardous caustic chemicals. Most plumbers I've met will refuse to work on a drain if you've used drain cleaner.
There is a method to clean drains that is safer on pipes and doesn't have the dangers of caustic chemicals. I originally found it on some of those crunchy eco-hippy sites, but it does usually work (Bob Vila convinced me to try it). It's also good as a monthly maintenance clean.
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Boiling water
- Pull out as much of the clog as you can.
- Pour a generous amount of baking soda in the drain.
- Pour a generous amount of white vinegar in the drain.
- Block the drain with a rag so the bubbles don't get out.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there is no baking soda left in the drain.
- Pour a large pot of boiling water down the drain.
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