Using Draino to unblock your sink is bloody awful. It’s poisonous, and I hate the thought of something so dangerous being kept in my home with little kids around. If you’re interested in saving money and going green, then you might like to try this tip next time you have a blocked or even just stinky drain.
Using some very simple and inexpensive ingredients, this is a much safer way to do this icky job.
Grab yourself some white vinegar and baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda, it’s the same thing anyway), and put the kettle on to boil.
Pour the kettle down the drain…
Then the baking soda….
Then the white vinegar, and….
KABOOM!!! The vinegar and baking soda will react with one another, causing it to froth up and fizz all throughout your drain. I have two sinks, and find I only have to use this method on one, because the fizzing action travels right out through the top of the drain in the other sink as well.
What I love best of all, is that this is safe to do with kids around, and they can even help with some of it. Although not tonight, they’re all in bed, sound asleep. Bliss… I hope you all have a lovely week!
I love this idea! My kitchen sink gets clogged up all the time and the Draino is so expensive, plus it’s not good for my garbage disposal. I’m definitely trying this next time, thanks!
Happy Sunday Feast from me. Lady Society sent me.
.-= MsBabyPlan´s last blog ..Thoughtful Wednesday =-.
Lillian, I didn’t know that about garbage disposals, so thanks for that:) Not a lot of people in Australia have one…
Welcome, Ms BabyPlan:)
.-= Hear Mum Roar´s last blog ..Guest posting today =-.
Thanks so much for commenting on my blog! I have been fizzing my sinks for years. It’s so fun!
.-= Linda´s last blog ..Not Your Mama’s Spring Musical =-.
You’re welcome, Linda! My fiance thought it was fun too, he heard the noise when I was doing this last night, and thinks I should’ve done this one as a video, lol
.-= Hear Mum Roar´s last blog ..Guest posting today =-.
I have been doing this for years. I don’t understand why people insist on using so many chemicals in their house. Vinegar and bi carb seem to fix soo many problems
Thanks for this! I had no idea and I have a perpetually clogged drain! I refuse to use anything on it because the fumes from the chemicals will fill my apartment.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Everybody wins =-.
This is awesome. I hate using Draino (or similar) too and was wondering if there was a safer alternative. So glad to find out there is.
.-= Marilyn @ A Lot of Loves´s last blog ..Potty Training: A Bump in the Road (and Potty Dance) =-.
Emma G, that is so true! Good old baking soda and vinegar are going to save the world! lol
Melissa, it is pretty scary using those chemicals, isn’t it? I can’t remember where I read it, but I read on the internet about a mother who’s son got poisoned using Draino. It seemed that one of the crystals got caught in the user’s sleeve, they sat down for dinner next to a child, the blue crystal fell onto the table, and the child thought it was a sweet, and ate it. Pretty scary stuff.
Marilyn, cleaning the drain this way is so effective, and it’s great to know all that other stuff isn’t necessary, isn’t it?
What a great idea! I love using white vinegar for a lot of my household cleaning and do on occasion splash some down the drain (but never thought to try it with baking soda). I’ll have to give this a shot! Lemons are also great for cleaning and they are a natural disinfectant.
Stopping in from Lady Bloggers
I sure could have used this advice about a month ago. Awesome tip I wont forget (book-marking this page) thanks!
Charlotte, thanks for reminding me about the lemon. I don’t use it as much as I should
Oh Wendy, sorry I didn’t write it a month ago, LOL. Oh well, next time…
This is wonderful. Every once in a while I have this problem and next time i will do what you say rather then make a trip to the store for drain cleaner.
Debbie
.-= Debbie @ Happy Maker´s last blog ..The Power of Positive Thinking – The Secret of Happiness? =-.
I use this method too…and may blog about it one day (just so you’re not surprised). It works great. I like to do it once a month or so to keep things clean since it doesn’t work on an entirely blocked drain – just a slow one.
Marilyn (A Lot of Loves)´s last post ..Journey to the Vancouver Lookout
It really does help, Debbie!
Thanks for the tip-off, Marilyn! lol
My house is very old and the sink is clogged all the time, I have to try this. I hate using Drano or any other toxic chemical. Thanks!
Baby in Bliss, our house is really old too, and it’s funny, but I think we’re due to do this little ‘kaboom’ system all over again too. I don’t touch Drano anymore, now that I know about this. Not worth it