Drain Cleaner
This drain cleaner works for the vast majority of problems with clogged and smelly drains; however, the idea is that we should ideally learn to prevent such issues by establishing a routine for our drains that keeps them in good condition. Sometimes, though, you need a drain cleaner—and here’s one: an eco-friendly option that spares us from plastic bottles, corrosive chemicals, and the like. I also use this drain cleaner once a month when I’m at one of our homes. Plus, on the last day before we leave a house and during the first few weeks after we return to the other house. Since the drains have often been sitting unused for months, this is a great way to get them started and wrapped up.
Prep Time5 minutter mins
Active Time15 minutter mins
Pulling time30 minutter mins
Total Time49 minutter mins
Course: Cleaning product
Cuisine: Household
Keyword: Plumbing, Cleaning, Home Maintenance
Yield: 1 drain
Author: Belle
- 1 L Varnt Water (I use demineralized water, usually the water left over from my dehumidifier. If you don't have that, you can just use tap water.)
- 100 g Soda Crystals
- 250 ml Vinegar (I use 14%—use whatever resolution you can get)
- 3 L Boiling Water
Boil 1 L of water and pour it down the drain.
Pour the baking soda crystals into the hot water and stir until they are completely dissolved.
Once the solution is clear, with no crystals or cloudy appearance, pour it directly into the drain you want to clean.
Let it sit for about 20 minutes.
Then pour the vinegar on top and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Boil another 1 liter of water
Pour it down the drain after 10 minutes have passed, and bring another pot of water to a boil.
Pour in the last pitcher of water and check to see if the drain smells neutral and the water flows through easily.
If the drain is still slow, repeat the process.
Tip for severely clogged drains:
If the crystal soda solution described above does not work after several attempts, are there two other options?.
Concentrated Crystal Soda (especially effective for short or narrow bathroom drains)
100 g Crystal Soda
500 ml Vinegar
3 L of boiling water
4 tablespoons citric acid
Pour 100 g of baking soda crystals directly down the drain without adding water. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then pour the vinegar down the drain (you’ll hear a loud fizzing sound) and let it sit for 10 minutes. Pour 1 liter of water plus 2 tablespoons of citric acid into a kettle, bring the water to a boil, and pour it directly down the drain. Repeat this step: 1 liter of water with 2 tablespoons of citric acid. Pour it down the drain, then boil the last kettle of water without any additives and pour it down the drain. This can be repeated 2–3 times if the drain is very clogged.
Caustic Soda (crystals, not liquid)
If the method above doesn't work, I use caustic soda. Caustic soda cannot be used if you have drain pipes made of galvanized steel, iron, or copper.
However, if you have plastic or similar materials, this is the best option to try before calling a plumber. Sodium hydroxide can remove even the most stubborn clogs because it breaks down organic matter and grease. It’s important to use it as follows. Always remember that it doesn’t have to end here—if you maintain your drains properly, you can limit your use of sodium hydroxide to making soap.
You will need:
Long clothing
1 pair of rubber gloves
1 Safety Goggles
1 plastic container
300 g Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda in crystal form)
1 liter of heated demineralized water
3 liters of boiling water
Boil 1 L of water and pour it down the drain.
Put on long sleeves, gloves, and safety goggles. Go into a well-ventilated room, the garden, or the patio.
Sprinkle 300 g of sodium hydroxide into 1 liter of water and stir with a silicone or plastic spoon until the crystals have dissolved. Be careful not to inhale the fumes from the mixture.
It is very important NEVER to add water to sodium hydroxide; doing so can cause an explosion of corrosive liquid, which is dangerous, so be sure to follow the instructions I have provided above exactly.
Once the mixture is clear (not cloudy) and all the crystals have dissolved, pour it directly down the drain. Let the drain sit for 30 minutes, then pour in the two liters of boiling water.
If this does not completely clear the clogged drain, you can repeat the steps above one more time.
This is a stopgap measure, and the whole point is to avoid reaching the point where it becomes necessary to do this.
So follow the maintenance guide above; maintaining your drain weekly means you’ll never need to use sodium hydroxide. However, I use the mild drain cleaner from the recipe above once a month and otherwise just stick to the weekly maintenance routine. 