Two Best Ingredients to Unclog a Sink

Baking soda (a base) and vinegar (a mild acid) create a chemical reaction that can break apart even the toughest clogs. After the fizzing has stopped, pour boiling water into the drain to flush away any loosened gunk. Sometimes you will need a plumber in Melbourne to help unclog a sink and it will require a professional for more in depth plumbing issues. 

However, sometimes unclogging a sink may help with some tricks. This trick works like the volcano experiment you did in elementary school to stage a natural drain cleaner that’s much easier on your pipes than harsh commercial products. 

Boiling Water 

Using boiling water to unclog your sink can be quick and effective. The boiling water can dissolve clogs by pushing them through the pipes. This method is particularly helpful if the clog is located in your drain’s P-trap. 

Rice and pasta are common foods that cause a sink drain to clog because they expand as they cook. Fibrous fruits and vegetables can also clog your sink drain, including corn husks and pumpkin seeds. 

Flour, which is a staple of most kitchens, can also be the source of a drain clog. The clumps of flour that can form when you mix the ingredients for bread or other baked goods can become a hard-to-break clog in your sink drain. 

When you combine salt and baking soda with boiling water, the chemical reaction creates pressure, fizz and a mild acid that can help break down some of the more stubborn clogs. Pour the mixture down your drain, then flush with boiling water. 

Baking Soda 

Baking soda is a wonderful natural cleaner that works well for clogged drains. Simply pour a pot of boiling hot water down the drain and then dump in 1/2 cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). The chemical reaction that takes place between the two ingredients causes a bubbling action that can help break down and flush out a clogged sink. 

Vinegar, or acetic acid, is another good natural ingredient to have on hand to unclog your drain. When poured over a quantity of baking soda, the acid helps bubble up and dislodge the clog, leaving your drain clear and ready to use. 

If your clogged drain doesn’t respond to the baking soda and vinegar method, try adding salt to the mix. For best results, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of salt and let it sit overnight. If the clog doesn’t dissolve, repeat the process and then rinse the drain with hot tap water. 

Salt 

Salt, like baking soda, disintegrates substances that cause clogs. It is particularly effective when used in combination with boiling water. This mixture helps dissolve and wash away clogs that may have formed from fatty deposits and other gunk that

coats the sides of the pipes. 

Often, these deposits are formed from foods that expand when they are cooked, such as rice, pasta and oats. They also form from greasy food, such as grease and other oils that can clog your sink drain quickly after they cool down and solidify. 

To use salt to unclog a sink, pour half a cup of baking soda and then half a cup of salt down the drain. The mixture will have a chemical reaction with the vinegar that produces carbon dioxide bubbles that help lift and loosen clogs. Let the mixture sit for an hour or overnight, and then flush the drain with boiling water. This method won’t work for clogs that are positioned deep into the stub pipe. 

Vinegar 

Vinegar is an acidic food product that can dissolve mineral deposits, dirt, and grime. It can also kill bacteria and remove odors from a sink or tub. Vinegar can also be used to polish copper, pewter, and brass. It’s an ingredient in some store-bought drain cleaners. 

Pour one cup of distilled white vinegar down the drain and wait for about five minutes. This causes a fizzing reaction, breaking down and dislodging clogs. Follow with a pot of boiling water. 

This mixture works especially well on kitchen drains, where food particles and eggshells are likely to create a clog. It can also help with stubborn grease clogs, but for these types of tough clogs, you may need to repeat the process. For best results, use this method once a month as part of your regular drain maintenance. This prevents clogs and keeps the pipes clean. You can even combine baking soda and vinegar to make a homemade drain cleaner that’s safer for the environment and your pipes than commercial chemical products.