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Home » Household Tips » DIY Drain Cleaner

DIY Drain Cleaner

By Julie

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

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Are you tired of a slow drain? Try this easy DIY drain cleaner. It's easy to use and chemical free. This homemade drain cleaner is the best drain opener to get rid of clogged drains! Try this DIY drain cleaner today.

diy drain cleaner

I have this annoying drain in my bathroom. Not only does it not drain well, but it also always looks dirty.

Every time you wash your hands it takes so long to drain that the sink looks gross.

Since I can't clean the sink every time someone uses it I decided to clean the drain.

Cleaning the drain is so easy to do, even if you don't want to use a bunch of chemicals. Check out below how to make your own homemade drain cleaner.

DIY Drain Cleaner

As I mentioned above, I don't like using things like Drain-o in the house. There are just too many chemicals in it.

Why Does This Work?

This works because baking soda and vinegar mixed together create a carbon dioxide gas that creates little bubbles that will help break up any small clogs in your drain.

Baking soda also has grease fighting power that will help get rid of any small grease sections that are stuck in your drain.

It's an easy way to clean your drain without using all kinds of bad for you chemicals.

This DIY Drain Cleaner will work well on the following clogs:

  • Grease
  • Small bits of food
  • Soap scum
  • Oil

Tips for Hair Clogging Drains

If this is a bathroom drain where you have a lot of hair in your drain I recommend cleaning the hair out first. I have an article and video on cleaning hair from the drain you can see here.

great uses for baking soda

Ingredients in Homemade Drain Cleaner

You will need the following ingredients to make your own drain cleaner. You probably already have everything you need at home right now!

Items Needed For Drain Cleaner:

  • Baking Soda
  • Vinegar
  • Hot Water
  • Pot for Boiling Water

Step 1: Start by pouring about 1/4-1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. You may need to push it down the drain a bit. This works best if your sink and drain are fairly dry.

I use my fingers to get most of it down the drain.

DIY-Drain-Cleaner.jpg

Step 2: Next, you will want to add 1/2 cup vinegar to the drain and close the pop-up section of your drain. This will help hold everything in the drain and let the vinegar and baking soda do it's thing.

Easy Tip

If you don't have a way of closing the drain then I recommend adding a plate or bowl over the drain so the mixture doesn't all come out.

DIY-Drain-Cleaner.jpg

Step 3: Let the mix sit for about 30 minutes. While your drain is sitting the carbon dioxide bubbles are hard at work pushing and moving grease, soap scum, and more through your drain to help clear the clogs.

Step 4: While the baking soda/vinegar mixture is sitting heat some water on the stove or microwave.

Free Weekly Cleaning Printable

Clean your home in under 30 minutes a day with this free Weekly Cleaning printable!

Step 5: After 30 minutes open the pop-up section or remove the plate and pour the hot water down the drain. Make sure you are careful not to spill the hot water on yourself or the floor.

DIY-Drain-Cleaner.jpg

Step 6: Let the hot water sit for a minute or two and then run your faucets to completely clean the drains.

Now your drain should be clear and water should flow through it.

Note: If you have a bad clog you may need to use this method a few times to get the drain completely clear.

I love how easy this DIY drain cleaner is. This homemade drain cleaner does a fantastic job of cleaning the drain without all the chemicals or cost.

Print Recipe

DIY Drain Cleaner

Are you tired of a slow drain? Try this easy DIY drain cleaner. It's easy to use and chemical free. This homemade drain cleaner is the best drain opener to get rid of clogged drains! Try this DIY drain cleaner today.
Prep Time1 minute min
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time31 minutes mins
Keyword: all natural drain cleaner, DIY drain cleaner, easy way to clean drain, homemade drain cleaner, simple drain cleaner
Servings: 1 Cleaning
Cost: $1

Equipment

  • 1 Pot or bowl needs to be stove or microwave safe

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 3 cups boiling water

Instructions

  • Start by pouring about 1/4-1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. You may need to push it down the drain a bit. This works best if your sink and drain are fairly dry.
  • Next, you will want to add 1/2 cup vinegar to the drain and close the pop-up section of your drain. This will help hold everything in the drain and let the vinegar and baking soda do its thing.
  • Let the mix set for about 30 minutes.
  • While the mixture is sitting heat some water up on the stove or in the microwave.
  • Open the pop-up section or remove the plate and pour the hot water down the drain.
  • Let the hot water sit for a minute or two and then run your faucets to completely clean the drains.

Want some other easy cleaning tips?

  • How to Clean Concrete
  • Make Your Home Smell Great Without Chemicals
  • How To Remove Armpit Stains

« The Easiest Way to Clean the Oven
21+ Amazing Ways to Make Your House Smell Good -No Chemicals »
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Athena says

    September 18, 2016 at 10:14 am

    Thats awesome. I dont like that this is so dang easy and the manufacturers are makin sooo much money off of our problems!!! Thank you for posting i will try this today in my bayhroom.

    • Julie says

      September 19, 2016 at 5:28 pm

      I hope it worked well for you!

  2. Urooj Zafar says

    August 07, 2016 at 2:02 pm

    I really really liked the way uve xplained every step in such a simple way and along with the pictures. Going to open my kitchen drain...catch ya later 😉

  3. Greg says

    July 21, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    nice cleaning tips without the chemicals.

  4. Julie says

    May 12, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    Great advice! I do this too

    • Julie says

      May 13, 2016 at 12:07 pm

      I love chemical free cleaning too! 🙂

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Hi, I'm Julie! Welcome to Frugally Blonde! I love sharing my favorite cleaning tips, decluttering tricks, & household hacks. I am a certified organizational specialist with a love for cleaning!

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