If you deal with plumbing clogs on a regular basis, you might find yourself struggling with bent wire hangers, chemical drain cleaner, and unfamiliar pipes. Unfortunately, unless you are a trained professional, all of your efforts might be in vain. Most people don't realize it, but it is possible to damage your plumbing by making a few missteps. If you use the wrong chemicals or you push a little too hard, you might end up dealing with damaged pipes or your clogging problem could get worse. Fortunately, you might be able to use this blog to help you to keep your plumbing flowing smoothly.
Having a clogged sink is bad enough, but using an over-the-counter chemical product to clear the gunk can feel like you're adding insult to injury. Not only can the chemicals used in commercial products be harmful to the environment, they can be deadly to human and animal life if not used correctly. Here are three natural non-toxic drain cleaners you can use that won't harm the environment.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Possibly the best natural drain cleaner you can use. When combined with vinegar, the baking soda produces an intense foam that eats away at the hair, oils, and other gunk that have coagulated together in the pipe.
To use, pour 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drain and follow up with about 1 cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes, and pour a gallon of boiling hot water down the drain. If you have plastic pipes, then you may want to use just hot water, as the heat from boiling water may damage them.
One of the disadvantages of using vinegar is that it can produce a bad smell. If you are bothered by this, you can substitute about 1/2 cup of lemon juice for the vinegar. It will produce the same result, but your sink will smell lemony fresh.
Salt, Borax, and Vinegar
This is another concoction that can break through clogs in your pipes. Although borax is known primarily as a cleaning agent, it can help dissolve fats and other greasy substances that may be causing the problem.
The recipe for this drain cleaner consists of 1/4 cup of borax, 1/4 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of vinegar. Pour down the drain and let sit for 45 minutes. Like with the previous cleaning, you'll need to flush the drain with some hot or boiling water to finish the job.
Enzyme Drain Cleaner
The active ingredients in this product are tiny organisms that basically eat the substances such as hair and food clogging the drain. Not only is an enzyme drain cleaner better for the environment, it's safe for use with septic systems, and it may help it work more efficiently.
You can purchase this product in most home improvement stores. The main drawback to using enzymes is they take several hours to clear the drain. So it's best to pour the product in the sink in the evening and let it sit overnight. Then flush the sink with hot or boiling water.
For more information, contact Plumbing by Belanger Plumbing & Heating or a similar company.
Share12 August 2015
