Written by Andrea Reviewed by Daniel

Blocked Drains? This DIY Cleaner Will Save You a Fortune!

Is your sink taking forever to drain? Are you constantly finding yourself ankle deep in shower water?

For homeowners plagued by sluggish pipes and fed up with expensive plumber callouts, this homemade drain cleaning solution could be your salvation. Not only will you clear those stubborn blockages, but you’ll also save yourself a tidy sum in the process!

Perfect for budget conscious homeowners and DIY enthusiasts alike, this natural drain cleaner uses simple kitchen ingredients you probably already have tucked away in your cupboards. Let’s sort those pipes without emptying your wallet!

The Hidden Culprits Behind Your Blocked Drains

Before we tackle the solution, it helps to understand what’s causing the problem in the first place.

What’s Lurking In Your Pipes

Your drains face different challenges depending on where they are in your home:

Kitchen Sinks see a constant barrage of cooking oils, food scraps, coffee grounds, and soap residue. That Sunday fry up might taste delicious, but the congealed fat can create nasty blockages when poured down the sink.

Bathroom Plumbing battles with hair, soap scum, toothpaste, and personal care products. Every time someone with long hair showers, strands make their way down the drain where they catch on rough spots in the pipe and start collecting soap residue.

Laundry Drains contend with lint, fabric fibres, and detergent buildup which can accumulate over time.

Understanding these distinct challenges helps you not only clear current blockages but prevent future ones too!

Your DIY Drain Cleaner Shopping List

The beauty of this solution is its simplicity. You’ll need:

Bicarbonate of Soda (1 cup): This kitchen staple works wonders on grease and creates a powerful cleaning reaction when combined with other ingredients. Every budget conscious homeowner should keep this versatile powder on hand!

Table Salt (1 cup): Acts as a gentle abrasive to help scour away buildup. The coarse texture helps break down stubborn blockages without damaging your pipes.

Cream of Tartar (1/4 cup): The secret ingredient that supercharges your mixture. Its acidic properties help dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits that other cleaners might miss.

Boiling Water (1 cup): Activates the cleaning power of the dry ingredients and helps flush the loosened gunk through your system.

Optional Additional Tools:

A sink plunger specifically designed for sinks and showers
Needle nose pliers for removing visible hair clumps
A basic drain snake for particularly stubborn blockages

These tools make excellent investments for any homeowner looking to reduce maintenance costs, quickly paying for themselves by avoiding just one professional callout!

Creating Your Powerful Drain Cleaning Solution

Let’s turn those simple ingredients into a powerful pipe clearing mixture:

Step 1: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

In a large container with a secure lid:

Add the bicarbonate of soda
Add the salt
Add the cream of tartar

Seal the container tightly and shake well to thoroughly combine all the powders. The resulting mixture can be stored for future use as long as you keep it dry and clearly labelled.

Step 2: Prepare Your Drain

For maximum effectiveness, try to ensure your drain is as dry as possible before treatment. If dealing with standing water, use a cup or small container to bail out as much as you can.

This preparation step ensures the powder mixture reaches deep into the blockage rather than dissolving in surface water.

Step 3: Apply The DIY Solution

Pour approximately 1/4 cup of your powder mixture directly down the affected drain. Make sure it goes straight down rather than sitting around the edges.

For particularly stubborn blockages, you might consider using up to 1/3 cup of the mixture.

Step 4: Add Boiling Water

Boil a full kettle of water. Once it has reached a rolling boil, carefully pour one cup directly down the drain over your powder mixture.

Stand back slightly as you do this, as the mixture will immediately begin to fizz and bubble vigorously. This bubbling action is the chemical reaction that helps break down the blockage!

Step 5: Allow Time To Work

Let the solution work its magic for about 15 to 20 minutes. During this time, the powerful combination of ingredients will be:

Breaking down grease and oils
Dissolving soap scum
Loosening hair and food particles
Scouring the inside of your pipes

This waiting period is crucial for allowing the chemical reactions to fully tackle the blockage.

Step 6: Flush The System

After waiting, turn on your cold water tap and run it for about 4 minutes. This final step flushes any loosened debris through your plumbing system and clears away any remaining cleaning mixture.

Pay attention to how quickly the water drains now, you should notice a marked improvement!

Tackling Stubborn Blockages

If your drain is still running slowly after the initial treatment, it’s time to bring in reinforcements:

The Plunger Method

A sink plunger can create pressure changes that dislodge blockages:

Ensure there’s enough water to cover the plunger’s rubber cup
Create a tight seal around the drain
Pump vigorously several times
Check if water now drains properly

The Manual Removal Approach

For visible blockages near the drain opening:

Remove the drain cover if possible
Use needle nose pliers to carefully extract hair and debris
Apply your drain cleaner again afterwards to clear any remaining residue

The Drain Snake Solution

For deeply lodged blockages:

Insert the snake into the drain opening
Rotate the handle as you push it deeper
When you feel resistance, you’ve reached the blockage
Continue rotating to break up the clog
Withdraw the snake and flush with plenty of water
Follow up with another treatment of your homemade cleaner

Prevention: Stop Blockages Before They Start

The smartest homeowners know that preventing blockages is far easier than clearing them. Implement these simple habits to keep your pipes flowing freely:

Regular Maintenance Routine

Use your homemade drain cleaner preventatively by applying it to all drains once every fortnight, even when they seem to be working fine. This regular maintenance dissolves small buildups before they become problematic blockages.

A calendar reminder on your phone can help make this quick task part of your regular household routine.

Install Drain Guards Everywhere

Invest in mesh drain guards for all your sinks and showers. These inexpensive devices catch hair, food particles and other debris before they enter your plumbing system. Simply remove the caught material and dispose of it in the bin regularly.

For households with long haired family members or pets, this single tip could save countless hours of drain clearing!

Be Mindful Of What Goes Down

Establish some household rules about what can and cannot go down your drains:

Allow cooking fats and oils to solidify, then bin them
Scrape food scraps into the compost or bin before washing dishes
Keep coffee grounds out of the sink
Use a drain guard during hair washing or shaving
Flush drains with hot water regularly to prevent buildup

These simple habits require minimal effort but can prevent major plumbing headaches!

When To Call The Professionals

While this DIY solution works brilliantly for most common blockages, some situations warrant professional attention:

Multiple drains blocked simultaneously
Recurring blockages despite regular treatment
Foul sewage smells coming from drains
Water backing up into other fixtures when using the sink or toilet
Gurgling sounds in the plumbing system

These symptoms could indicate issues with your main drainage system that require specialised equipment and expertise to resolve.

Why This Natural Solution Beats Store Bought Cleaners

Beyond just clearing blockages, there are several advantages to using our homemade drain cleaner:

Cost Effective: Commercial drain cleaners cost between £5 and £15 per bottle, while our homemade solution costs mere pennies per use, saving budget conscious homeowners significant money over time.

Environmentally Friendly: Unlike harsh chemical cleaners, this natural solution won’t harm waterways or contribute to water pollution.

Safer For Your Family: No toxic fumes or dangerous chemicals to worry about, making it perfect for households with children, pets, or anyone concerned about chemical exposure.

Gentler On Plumbing: Commercial cleaners can corrode pipes over time, especially older ones, whereas this solution is much kinder to your plumbing system.

Versatile Ingredients: All these ingredients have multiple uses around the home, making them excellent value for money and practical additions to your cleaning supplies.

Your Wallet Will Thank You

By making this simple homemade cleaner and using it regularly, you’ll save yourself both the frustration of blocked drains and the considerable expense of emergency plumber callouts, which can easily run £50 to £150 per visit!

For homeowners looking to maintain their property without breaking the bank, this DIY solution represents significant savings over time. It’s exactly the kind of practical knowledge that helps keep household maintenance costs manageable.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure, but with this powerful DIY solution in your cleaning arsenal, you’re well equipped to handle most common drain issues that come your way!

Share these tips with friends and family who are tired of throwing money at plumbing problems. A little DIY knowledge goes a long way in keeping our homes running smoothly and our bank accounts healthy!

Also, follow us on Pinterest ...