Whether it’s a slow-moving kitchen sink drain or a shower drain that backs up with the smallest amount of water, dealing with these issues can be messy and frustrating. When you’re in a pinch, you’re likely desperate to know what to use for drain cleaner substitutes.
Many commercial drain cleaners are readily available in stores, but they’re often not the safest products for your home’s pipes and your health. This leads to questions like, “What is an all-natural drain cleaner I can make at home?” or “Can I use apple cider vinegar to unclog a drain?”
If you’re learning more about do-it-yourself drain cleaners, below we delve into some tips on what to use as a drain cleaner and explore if DIY solutions truly work.
The Advantage of All-Natural Drain Cleaner Solutions Over Commercial Products
Homemade remedies may not always resolve clogs, but they’re arguably better alternatives to most commercial products. Your commercial drain cleaner at home may contain chemicals that are harsh on your sink and tub surfaces.
On the other hand, homemade solutions are free from such damaging chemicals, making them safer for your fixtures, your health, and the environment. Using them minimizes the risks of corroding or breaking down your pipes, ultimately preventing costly repairs. The best part is that DIY solutions often utilize household ingredients, making them cost-effective.
Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar To Unclog a Drain?
Apple cider vinegar and baking soda make an all-natural solution that can clear your drains. When mixed, the two substances create a bubbling foam that can loosen most minor clogs and move debris along the line.
If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, white vinegar or lemon juice can work well as substitutes.
Does Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar Unclog Drains?
The reaction between baking soda and apple cider vinegar creates a foam-like substance that bubbles through debris buildup. This breaks down the clog and allows the loose material to flow through the system.
This solution can dislodge minor clogs and blockages, but it may not be enough for those made up of fats, oils, grease, and grit (FOGG). These substances become solidified when cold, making them tricky to remove. Drains blocked with excessive hair may also not be resolved by DIY vinegar solutions.
Do Homemade Drain Cleaners Always Work?
The effectiveness of your DIY drain cleaner largely depends on the type and severity of the clog you’re dealing with. For example, as mentioned, your baking soda and vinegar drain cleaner at home may not be enough to clear FOGG or excessive hair blockages.
Seeking professional assistance is still the most effective and time-efficient way to keep your drains clean and flowing freely. It’s also your safest option, especially if your home’s pipes are old. Plumbers can identify the cause of your drainage issues and resolve them using the right tools and products.
Drain Cleaning DIY: 4 Reasons To Don’t Do It Yourself
Many homeowners to DIY solutions, believing they’re affordable and easy to implement. However, here are four of the many reasons why it’s best not to do drain cleaning yourself – and get expert help instead.
1. DIY Can Be Ineffective for Stubborn Clogs
Homemade drain cleaners may unclog minor blockages but are often ineffective for more significant or complex plumbing issues. Deep-seated clogs caused by grease buildup, tree root infiltration, or foreign objects in the pipes require professional attention and equipment to be resolved once and for all.
2. It Poses Chemical Hazards
One primary concern with DIY drain cleaners is the chemical reactions that they can create. Misusing products can severely damage pipes and cause health issues like skin and eye irritations and chemical burns. For example, accidentally using bleach after a vinegar solution releases poisonous chlorine gas.
3. It Can Worsen an Existing Issue
Experimenting with homemade remedies or using improvised tools can aggravate the problem deep down your drain. When further issues like a leak, burst pipe, or a loosened connection develop, you may face a more extensive and costlier problem.
4. You Can Miss the Real Problem
Some clogs are caused by simple congestion, but others may result from a bigger problem in your system. Your DIY tricks may unclog your drains temporarily, but you may see the same problem again a few weeks later.
The only way to understand what’s going on in your pipes is to seek the help and advice of a qualified plumber. For example, at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Overland Park, our technicians employ different methods to assess and fix clogged drains. This enables us to resolve any problem and offer a long-term solution.
Get Effective Drain Cleaning With the Help of Professionals
Creating your vinegar solution or grabbing your drain snake may seem convenient, but there’s no guarantee they’ll solve your drain issues or keep expensive services at bay. In reality, they can be time-consuming endeavors that may worsen the problem and create a messier situation.
Forget the mess and hassle of resolving your clogged drains yourself. At bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, our plumbers offer quick and effective solutions for whatever drain issue you may have. Best of all, they take good care of your pipes and make it a point to leave the work area tidy.
Take advantage of our reliable service and book your drain cleaning today. We look forward to remedying all your drain issues so you can get your home and life back to normal.
