Baking soda and vinegar do not clear blocked drains
Sorry to disappoint you. I guarantee that mixing baking soda and vinegar will not clear your blocked drain. However, I can assure you will create a lovely fizzy, bubbling concoction that fascinates your kids and nothing else.
When you mix vinegar with baking soda, you create a bubbling chemical reaction that produces:
- a small amount of sodium acetate, which is a salt and also known as hot ice
- ordinary H2O or water
What is not created is a magical chemical that will clear any blockage in your drains. I realise this is contrary to the popular urban myths spun by well-intentioned DIY gurus.
Baking soda and vinegar will not break down buildups of grease, fats, oils or hair
Baking soda and vinegar will not clear your blocked drain because they will not break down the buildups of grease, fats, oils or hair. To break them down, so they run away in water, you require a combination of heat and a surfactant.
The reality is if you have a slow-draining shower, basin or sink drain, then don’t waste money on chemical solutions. Instead, use salt and hot water. All you need to do is pour half a cup of salt into the drain, then slowly pour a couple of litres of water heated to just before boiling.
You may need to repeat this a few times, but it works by melting some grease and fat buildup. This is aided by the salt’s natural abrasiveness, which acts as a scouring agent to force more grease and fat to flow with the water.
We use an enzyme product when we are clearing trade waste drains and grease traps. We can provide you with it also to ensure your internal waste pipes on the shower, basin, or sink don’t clog up with grease, fats, soap or hair. Enzyme solutions need to be used regularly, generally overnight, but they work to keep your drains free from organic buildups. Best of all, by breaking down organic matter, they eliminate odour issues.
Simply baking soda and vinegar will not clear your blocked drain, no matter how much you pour it down the drain. You will waste money buying baking soda and vinegar to create a lovely effervescence with lots of bubbles and fizzing.
You will waste money buying baking soda and vinegar to create a lovely effervescence with lots of bubbles and fizzing.
