Frugal Drain Cleaner

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

11 Aug 2007 05:27 AM

If you have slow drains but don't want to spend a lot on commercial drain cleaners, you can try this trick. It doesn't use harsh chemicals, so it is safe for septic tanks and can be used over and over again.

You can use help dissolve built up scum and hair in any of your drains (ugh), including the sink, the shower, and the bathtub. Regular maintenance will help keep your drains clean and flowing well.

If your drains have gotten to the point where they are completely clogged and absolutely no water is moving through, then this remedy might not work for you. Instead, you may need one of those harsh commercial de-cloggers, a plumbing snake or a plumber.

First, gather your ingredients. You'll need the following:

• 1 cup of salt
• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1/2 cup of white vinegar
• 2 quarts of boiling water

The next step is to mix together the salt, baking soda and white vinegar. Pour it into the drain and let it sit there for at least 15 minutes. Then at the 2 quarts of boiling water to flush everything through. Finally, run the hot water from your faucet or shower down the drain for at least one minute. You should notice a big difference in the flow of the water down the drain. You can always repeat the process if the clog hasn't completely cleared.

And remember when I talked about maintenance? Putting inexpensive "hair guards" over your drains is a very frugal way of preventing any problems from starting in the first place. Some of these devices sit in the drain and have to be removed and cleaned out on a frequent basis. Other just sit over the top of the drain, preventing anything from getting through in the first place. Any hair would just sit on top of the drain and need to be wiped off.

Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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