Chemical Free Ways to Fix a Blocked Drain

Commercial drain cleaning chemicals are some of the harshest and most hazardous household cleaning agents on the market. Happily, there are plenty of other harmless concoctions of common household ingredients which can be used to manage minor plumbing blockages. This week, we look at three blocked drain fixers that are less hazardous alternatives to commercial cleaning chemicals.

Baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar is the go-to chemical free cure-all when it comes to household cleaning. When it comes to cleaning a drain however, it needs to be done in stages to successfully shift the blockage.

1. Pour a pot of boiling hot water down the drain, then pour a half cup of baking soda down and let it sit for a few minutes. This will loosen up the grease and grime lodged in the drain.
2. Next, mix a cup of vinegar and a cup of hot water together and pour it over the baking soda. Keep the reaction below the drain surface by putting in a plug if you have one and then let it sit for 5-10 minutes. The famous energetic chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda will help to dislodge the blockage.
3. Finish it off with another pot of boiling water to ensure the drain is clean. As a bonus, the vinegar will help eliminate any lingering drain odours.

 

Baking soda and salt

A lesser known but equally potent combination is salt and baking soda which produce a chemical reaction that is great for both breaking down grease build-up and reducing odours. To use, simply pour half a cup of salt and half a cup of baking soda down the blocked drain and then leave it for 10-20 minutes before rinsing with a pot of boiling water.

 

Dish detergent

Whilst it’s not exactly chemical free, detergent merits a mention on this list as it can be a handy ally when dealing with toilet clogs which no amount of baking soda will fix. The soap acts as a lubricant to break up greasy residue and makes plunging easier. To use, simply pour a quarter cup of detergent into the bowl and then follow it up with a pot of hot water. Leave for ten minutes so the detergent can do its work before you begin plunging.

 

If you continue to struggle with blocked drains, call the team at JPG on 0400 978 442 for a fast, affordable and effective plumbing solution.