Drain cleaning can turn into a tiring and time-consuming task if you don’t have the right tools and effective detergents at hand. Food and soap residue can clog pipes when you wash dirty dishes in the kitchen sink or take care of yourself in the bathroom.
The biggest problem in these cases is that water stagnates in the pipes and leads to the appearance of an unpleasant smell in the apartment. Unfortunately, you will be able to feel a bad smell not only in the kitchen but also in other parts of the house, if you do not solve this problem in time.
Of course, nowadays there is a large number of detergents for cleaning the drain, but we still recommend giving preference to natural products. In fact, there are a number of home remedies that can clean sewer pipes of food particles and other debris.
Drain cleaning: natural remedies for this problem
By combining several effective natural ingredients, you will get an effective drain cleaner that is absolutely safe for the environment. Please note: although store-bought detergents work a little faster, they contain toxic chemicals that are very harmful to health.
1. Vinegar, salt, and borax
Thanks to its incredible beneficial properties, vinegar helps to remove grease residues and clean sewer pipes of food residues and dirt. If you want to increase the effectiveness of vinegar, we recommend combining it with salt and borax. Do not forget that all these products have powerful binding properties.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of vinegar (125 ml)
- 1/4 cup of borax (50 g)
- 6 glasses of boiling water (1.5 l)
- 1/4 cup of salt (50 g)
Preparation and use:
- Pour vinegar down the drain and wait about five minutes for the agent to take effect.
- Then add borax and salt. Wait another 10 minutes.
- Finally, pour boiling water into the pipe and wait 10 minutes before turning the water back on.
2. Baking soda, salt, and lemon
Among other valuable products, they are distinguished by their ability to soften the remains of fat and food, which not only clog sewer pipes but also lead to the appearance of an unpleasant smell in the home.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of baking soda (100 g)
- 1/2 cup of salt (100 g)
- juice of 5 lemons
- 6 glasses of boiling water (1.5 l)
Preparation and use:
- Mix baking soda and salt in a bowl.
- Pour the mixture into the drain pipe and wait 5 minutes for the product to take effect.
- Meanwhile, squeeze the juice of five lemons.
- After 5 minutes, pour lemon juice into the pipe. The water will enter into a chemical reaction with the soda, thanks to which the remnants of food and dirt will be able to pass further down the pipe.
- Then pour boiling water down the pipe and wait at least 30 minutes before using the sink again.
Note: for best results, it is best to leave these products on overnight before turning on the water again.
3. Yeast
Believe it or not, a simple combination of fresh yeast and boiling water is also one of the most effective natural drain cleaners. With the help of these two ingredients, you can get rid of the waste that clogs the drains in the kitchen and bathroom. In addition, this product perfectly disinfects surfaces and eliminates unpleasant odors.
Ingredients:
- 1 package of fresh yeast
- 2 cups of boiling water (500 ml)
Preparation and use:
- Mix the contents of the yeast package with two cups of boiling water.
- As soon as the yeast disperses, pour the finished product into the sewer pipe.
- Leave the remedy overnight and wash off its remains the next day with hot water.
4. Apple vinegar and baking soda
Although we often use apple vinegar in the kitchen when preparing various dishes, it can also be used as a natural means of cleaning the house. By mixing apple cider vinegar with baking soda, you have a surprisingly effective home remedy for drain cleaning.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of apple vinegar (250 ml)
- 1/2 cup of baking soda (100 g)
- 6 glasses of boiling water (1.5 l)
Preparation and use:
- Pour apple vinegar down the drain and immediately pour baking soda inside.
- Wait 5-10 minutes for the product to start working.
- Then pour boiling water into the opening of the sewer pipe.
Note: if you did not manage to clean the drain immediately, try to repeat the procedure again. We recommend not pouring cold water into the opening of the sewer pipe for at least 2-3 hours after using natural remedies.
Picture Credit: VistaCreate