Anyone who’s made a volcano in science class is already well versed in the chemistry at work in this recipe.
Need a refresher? Baking soda + Vinegar = ERUPTION.
Our old pipes are temperamental at the best of times. Over 80 years of tenants stuffing their vegetable choppings and grease down them have taken their toll. As of a few days ago they had completely given up the good fight and nothing was going down. We have a snake-thingy that we picked up from Home Depot, but that didn’t do the trick, likely because it’s a double basin sink. We were honestly considering getting some drain cleaner tonight. I know. Awful.
I thought I would do some last ditch googling and see if I could find something to try in the meantime. I kept coming across vinegar and baking soda recipes. Holy tomatoes, it worked like a dream.
{My notes are in blue.}
This sounds easy but in practice it’s a bit tricky to pour fine powder down a clogged drain. I poured it in and then kind of mushed it down with my hands (something you couldn’t do with Drain-O! – drain cleaner = 0 / recipe = 1).
THERE WILL BE BUBBLES.
Did I mention? THERE WILL BE BUBBLES. Also – if you have a double basin sink, plug both drains.
The recipes I found called for boiling hot water. I’m lazy. Hot tap water did the trick
Credit: original recipe source
Since my drain was CLOGGED, I kind of took liberties with the wait time and did a preliminary run without letting it sit for 30 minutes. Instead I let it sit for only a minute or so – then I did a hot water rinse. THEN I did it again, letting it mellow for the recommended time. They’re running better now than they have since we moved in.
Hope someone else can find my little experiment useful!
