When a drain is clogged, you may be tempted to pick up a supermarket solution to loosen the blockage. While these products often work well, they can also cause serious harm to your pipes. The high toxicity levels in these chemical-laden concoctions will not only contaminate the air you breathe, but they will also degrade your plumbing fixtures. Fortunately, you can protect your health and your property with a few household items. The next time you encounter a clogged drain, try this effective, natural method.

Tackle a Clogged Drain the Natural Way

Gathering the Ingredients

All you need to pull off this task is a half cup of baking soda, one cup of vinegar, and one cup of hot water. You don’t need to boil it, but you should use the warmest temperature that comes out of your faucet.

Putting Them to Work

First, remove the stopper from your drain. Next, pour the half cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by the vinegar. Then, set your timer for 10 minutes and wait.

When the timer dings, pour a mug of hot water down the drain and put the stopper back on. You may need to repeat the procedure a couple of times before it completely unclogs the drain, so be patient. If you’re still having problems after this, consult a plumber.

How It Works

When you combine these two substances, the vinegar’s hydrogen ions react with the baking soda’s bicarbonate ions, forming carbonic acid and sodium acetate. When you pour this mixture down the drain, it loosens up clogged debris. It works just as well as supermarket products, and after all the fizzling, the mixture essentially only leaves salt water behind.

When DIY methods fail to fix your plumbing, consult the experts. The experienced team at Midwestern Plumbing Service in Amelia, OH, can tackle blocked drains of all kinds. As a 24-hour plumber, you can count on this team in the event of an emergency. To learn more about how they can help you, visit the website. You can also call a friendly professional at (513) 753-0050.