Unclog Drains Naturally

Clogs in your bathtub, shower or sink drains are the worst. Who wants to wash their hair while standing in two inches of water or spit toothpaste into a sink that isn’t draining? Before you reach for a bottle of heavy-duty drain cleaner, consider the environment. The active ingredient in most drain cleaners is sodium hydroxide, otherwise known as caustic soda or lye. It is a man-made chemical used for its corrosive properties. Sodium hydroxide is an irritant that can burn skin and aggravate nose, throat and respiratory airways, and can even corrode your pipes! We know one plumber who charges extra when he finds out clients have used these products because they can destroy his tools! Save yourself the hassle of sluggish or clogged drains with a few of these preventative tips and one fool-proof and ecologically kind recipe for keeping your drains working the way they should.

Stop clogs before they start:

• Flush drains once a week with boiling water. Pouring boiling water down drains once a week helps to reduce the amount of gunk coating the insides of your pipes, like conditioner or food oils, which hair and debris can stick to, creating a clog.

• Invest a few bucks in a “hair snare”, a small rubber device that sits over your shower drain. A hair snare allows water to filter through, but catches hair and other debris before it can wash down the drain and cause a ruckus.

• Keep food oils out of the sink! If there’s just a little bit of grease in the pan, wipe it away with a paper towel that can then be tossed in the compost. If there’s a lot leftover, pour the grease into a small can or jar, and keep it covered in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to use it or toss it in the trash.

Despite your best attempts, clogs happen. At the first sign of sluggishness, try this snappy technique for getting things moving again:

Pour one cup of baking soda down your stubborn drain and follow it with a cup of white vinegar. The fizzing means it’s working! Let your concoction bubble and burp for ten minutes or more. To finish, flush the drain with a kettle full of boiling water and watch with pride as it eases down your pipes – barrier free.

Photograph by Sissel Karlsen