Mean, Green, Drain-Cleaning Machine
It feels good to know the cleaning products you’re using are healthy and safe for your family. Here, Stephens dives into our best DIY drain cleaners.
Benefits of DIY Cleaner
DIY cleaners offer a lot of advantages over their store-bought counterparts. For one, they work just as well. Harsh cleaners aren’t needed for most everyday messes. Similarly, you know exactly what goes into your cleaner, meaning that there’s no ingredient that you can’t pronounce. DIY cleaners are also cheaper and tend to be eco-friendly!
Everyday Recipes
These everyday cleaners are sure to have your drains clean and sparkly. Try whichever one you happen to have ingredients for; most of them can be found in your pantry!
Recipe One: Drain Refresher
For this recipe, you’ll need baking soda and vinegar – but we’re not making a volcano! Take 1/2 cup baking soda and mix it with 1/4 cup salt, and then pour it down the drain. Follow it with 1 cup of gently heated vinegar. Because the mixture will bubble and rise, cover the drain with a drain stopper or duct tape. After letting the mixture sit for 15 minutes, run hot water down the drain for up to a minute. Repeat if necessary for a fresh, clean drain.
Recipe Two: Soap and Scum Removal
Got soap and scum? Try cream of tartar! Grab 1/8 cup of tartar, a half cup of salt, and two cups of baking soda and combine in a jar. Cover and shake. Pour two cups of hot water down the drain, and then pour down the mix. Leave the mix for at least an hour, or even overnight for really stubborn clogs.
Recipe Three: Treating Grease
Grease clogs, often termed “fatbergs,” can be treated with a detergent mix. Boil a pot of water, and then add two tablespoons of dishwashing detergent. Slowly pour the hot mixture down the drain. For drains that experience frequent grease or oil, this can be performed once a week.
Recipe Four: All-Purpose Cleaner
Start this recipe with some ingredients used above; you’ll need 1/4 cup salt, 1/2 cup vinegar, and then 1/4 Borax. Borax is sold in most large grocery stores in the laundry aisle. Combine all of the ingredients, and then pour them down the drain. Follow it with a pot of boiling water, also poured slowly. Allow the solution to sit for at least 60 minutes before running tap water through the drain.
Specific Cleaners
Sometimes, our drains handle more-than-everyday substances, from oil and grease to a stray piece of stuck food. For those sink drain clogs that need a little extra, try these at-home tricks.
Blocked Drain Cleaner
When something accidentally enters the drain that isn’t a liquid, a clog is likely. Lodged objects or even larger pieces of food require manual removal, and no cleaning agent will affect it. Use a wire hanger, drain wand, or other drain clog removal kit.
Large Grease Clog
Stubborn fat and grease clogs can cause serious drainage issues. If other treatments haven’t been working, there’s a good chance that the solutions you’ve been administering have been adding to the lodged mass. Instead, try using just water. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and allow the water to sit and cool for a few minutes. Then, pour just water down the drain. The heat should be enough to melt the clog into smaller fragments. If necessary, continue repeating this process, and use a bigger volume of hot water.
Stephens Can Help
Some clogs are too stubborn for DIY, and Stephens understands that. Our professional team is here to help with any obstructions your household ever faces. For the most stubborn of clogs, it’s necessary to call a professional – why not call Stephens!