A clogged drain can be a hassle if you don’t have the right tools to clear the pipes. Those chemical-based cleaners at your local store usually will do more harm than good. They can dissolve clogs, and your pipes while they’re at it! So how can you clear out your drain carefully and safely?

Luckily, All Aloha Plumbing wants to share drain-cleaning recipes you can make right at home. They use natural cleaning agents that can break down any kind of clog you may have in your home. Here are three mixtures you can make to clean your drain and remove any clogs along the way.

What Are Good Natural Cleaning Materials?

Chemical-based cleaners can be dangerous for your pipes. They can melt and warp PVC or cause corrosion in galvanized steel pipes. This means your pipes may need replacing sooner than you were expecting. To extend your plumbing system’s lifespan, you can use these natural materials instead:

• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Hot Water
• Dish Soap
• Salt
• Cream of tartar

These cleaning agents loosen, break and bust through organic material and any other clogs you may have in your drain. They do so without damaging the pipes and they can easily be flushed down with water.

What Are Some Natural Drain Cleaner Recipes?

Depending on what kind of blockage you have, you can use a variety of recipes to clean it out. There isn’t one perfect remedy for every situation, but you can tackle the clog by picking out the right mixture for the problem. Here are three mixtures you can use and where they work best.

Baking Soda And Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar can go a long way as a cleaning solution. For drain cleaners, this mixture can eat through any food scraps that get stuck in your drains and clean up the grease inside your pipes.

First, pour hot water down the drain. Then, pour in ½ cup of baking soda followed by ½ cup of vinegar. If you have a drain stopper for your drain, plug it up while the mixture is working. If you don’t have one, a cloth works just as well. Let this sit for 10 to 15 minutes. After the time has passed, flush out the drain with more hot water and let the hot tap run for at least 30 seconds. This will flush out the mixture along with the clog.

Borax, Salt And Vinegar

Salt and borax are great for drain cleaner mixtures. Their coarse texture makes it easier to rub away food clogs without damaging the pipes. Combining them with vinegar creates a chemical reaction that both eats through the food and loosens it from your plumbing system.

All you need to do is combine ¼ cup of borax and ¼ cup of salt. Pour this down your drain and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then pour ½ cup of vinegar down the drain and flush it with hot tap water. Your clog should be gone in no time.

Baking Soda And Salt

Just like the other two solutions, baking soda and salt work just as well for unclogging your drain. The salt rubs away any food stuck to your pipes and the baking soda loosens the grime and grease from food scraps.

Take a mixture of ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup salt and dump it down your drain. You can let this mixture sit anywhere between 30 minutes to 8 hours before flushing it out with hot water.

Learn How To Unclog A Drain With All Aloha Plumbing!

If these natural mixtures didn’t work out or you want more information on natural cleaning solutions, contact All Aloha Plumbing! Our team can tackle more serious clogs and any other problems you may have with your plumbing system. Contact us today for our Maui drain services!