Weekly Drain Maintenance
I do this every Monday morning when I wake up. It’s simply become a routine, and I do it right after I brush my teeth and wash my face. That way, it gets done early while the others in the house are still asleep. It takes me about an hour to go through the house’s three drains, and that’s only because I have to mix the solution, let it sit, and boil water. So it’s not all active time—it’s just like making tea: there’s boiling time and steeping time, so I can do other things in the meantime.
Yield: 1 drain
Equipment
- 1 kettle
Materials
- 1 L Hot Water
- 45 g Crystal Soda / Washing Soda (both powder and crystals can be used)
- 250 ml Vinegar (I use a 14%)
- 3 L Boiling water
- 2 tbsp Citric acid
- 100 ml Enzyme solution (This isn't a must, but your drain will love it, and so will your septic tank. The recipe for an enzyme cleaner is on the blog, and the recipe for the enzyme solution is in the note.)
Instructions
- Pour 1 liter of boiling water down the drain.
- Mix the crystal soda into 1 L of warm water and stir with a silicone spoon until it is completely dissolved.
- Once the liquid is free of crystals, pour it down the drain. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Once the 15 minutes are up, pour the vinegar directly down the drain and let it sit for another 15 minutes.
- Pour one liter of water into the kettle and add 2 tablespoons of citric acid. Bring the water to a boil and pour it down the drain after 15 minutes.
- Boil another pot of water, pour it down the drain, and presto—problem solved. Your drain should be all set for the coming week, with no odors or slow drainage.
- If you're using an enzyme solution, now is the time to pour 100 ml down the drain and let it sit for about an hour without using the drain.
Notes
Enzyme Solution 100 ml
20 ml Active Enzyme Cleaning with Lemon
80 ml of demineralized water
1 tablespoon citric acid
Mix the enzyme cleaner with water and add the citric acid; make sure it dissolves completely, then pour it down the drain and let it sit for about an hour before using it.
Tip:
Before you start maintaining your drain, I recommend using the mild drain cleaner listed below for a couple of weeks. This will ensure that the drain is thoroughly cleaned and ready for maintenance.
If your drain is very slow or smells bad, you can first use the very strong drain cleaner I describe in the note under “Drain Cleaner,” and then use the mild drain cleaner once a week afterward. After a couple of weeks, you’ll be able to switch to maintenance using baking soda, water, vinegar, and Active Enzyme Cleaning with Lemon.