| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| dandelionhouse |
Posted - Jan 24 2010 : 1:10:26 PM
To unclog a bathtub or sink drain the natural non toxic way, boil a full kettle of tea until it's steepin hot!
Pour half or 3/4 of a box of baking soda down the drain followed by the hot boiling water... repeat if necessary... this has worked well for us in our bathtub as my daughter and I have thick curly hair!
Give it a try!
Deb... www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com
home is where we all craft the life of our dreams. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Jul 24 2015 : 12:35:57 PM
I do the same as Marsha. I run a lot of hot water after, to be sure all is dissolved. Works good for me.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| marjean |
Posted - Jul 13 2015 : 09:26:03 AM
I tend to get the kitchen sink draining slow at times. I pour baking soda and white vinegar and let it set then rinse. Works great!
Farmgirl sister #308
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| marjean |
Posted - Jul 13 2015 : 09:25:11 AM
We just used white vinegar to unclog the bathroom shower drain. Let is soak overnight and it was unclogged the next morning!
Farmgirl sister #308
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| LaLa |
Posted - Jun 14 2014 : 3:08:57 PM
Oh wow! Thanks for sharing. We've had a terrible time with clogged sinks.
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| beaglemama |
Posted - Mar 02 2014 : 09:05:08 AM
We do Bokashi composting and use the "juice" in our drains to keep them running smooth. All the micro-organisms eat away at everything in the drains. I just walk around with a mason jar full of the "juice" and pour some down. Let it sit for a while then run water as usual. The smell isn't the most pleasant but goes away within an hour. Since I've been doing this, we haven't had even a slow drain.
Bonus use is to dilute it with water and use it on houseplants our outside. Great natural fertilizer.
All children are gifted. Some just open their packages a little later.
Farmgirl Sister #4836 |
| LysLouise |
Posted - Jan 22 2014 : 7:22:12 PM
These ideas are great! I can't stand the smell of draino!!
Alyssa |
| chickenmom |
Posted - Jun 17 2012 : 6:28:45 PM
Rachel, we have a "snake" also that we've used for deeper clogs, great things to have around, even if you only use once, it's cheaper than a plumber and non toxic! |
| felixfelicis |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 12:43:26 PM
Toni, the little plastic thing is great for sink drains, but you can also get a big official drain "snake" that you attach to a drill to get deep down into bath and shower drains. Our shower was backing up with awful black goo and we were able to use our own snake instead of calling (and paying) a plumber to come by and do the exact same thing. Backing soda and vinegar and boiling water are wonderful to clear up slow drains or keep clean ones clean but if you can't get them down the drain any more it's time for a more hands on approach!
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell |
| natesgirl |
Posted - Jun 11 2012 : 08:36:00 AM
I do the bakin soda and vinegar thing. I do it a little different though. I run my usual bath water and add 2-3 cups of vinegar. It's good for your skin and hair! After I let my water out I pour the bakin soda down the drain, then follow with a small amount of vinegar. I usually pour the vinegar 2 or 3 times till it doesn't sound lound anymore. Then Hubby gets in and takes his usual shower.
The drains get cleared once a week, thoroughly rinsed after, I get softer hair, and there is very little waste. I would do the vinegar soak every week and noticed it seemed to drain a little fast the next day. I guess the hot vinegar water loosens things up some, so it seemed natural to do the drain cleanin while it was loosened up some.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
| chickenmom |
Posted - Jun 10 2012 : 8:41:42 PM
Just bought this long skinny plastic "thing" from Walmart with barbs along the side for cleaning out your drain. Cost about $2.50. I usually use a wire hook to clean out hair, but wanted something a little longer. This is flexible and reaches down to the trap. I tried it last night, you wouldn't believe the huge GROSS chunk of goo I pulled out of my drain. And I try to keep it clean regularly. I also use vinegar and baking soda or washing soda and hot water (see side of washing soda box) As soon as my stomach settles from last nights glob :) I'll try the rest of my drains and see what I find! |
| Cherime |
Posted - Jun 09 2012 : 05:49:28 AM
I use a thin welding rod for a gas welder bent into a small hook and take the hair out that usually works without anything else needing to be done. I have a septic system as well and DO not want to upset the balance. Here with the extreme cold in AK you have to treat septic systems with kid gloves to keep them working. In the spring I feed it stuff to keep the bugs happy and working and that is all.
CMF |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Jun 08 2012 : 5:03:48 PM
I tried this today. Worked like a charm. Thank you so much for sharing! I, too, have long curly hair.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| sweettea |
Posted - May 30 2012 : 8:58:50 PM
I hadn't thought of following up the vinegar and baking soda with boiling water. I've just used hot water and it hasn't worked as well as I wish it would. My bathroom sink keeps getting clogged. My husband just took it apart to clean it out about a month ago. I'll try boiling water with the baking soda and vinegar and see how that goes.
"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein |
| phonelady |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 8:51:28 PM
If you use vinegar that has been run through your coffee pot it will be sure to dissolve the baking soda and clean everything up. [You'll have a clean coffee pot too!] I do this to all the drains in the house about once a month.
Nancy is right, it's good to reach down into the drains with a hooked wire or one of those plastic articles with the serrated teeth turned backwards and pull up all that yucky hair and stuff.
I have done this in the bathrooms [tub and sink] in the last two rentals where I lived [drain clogging hair removal is not part of general maintenance until the plumber has to be called].
Smiles!
Carla
It's not just life-
It's an adventure! |
| MrsRooster |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 11:17:32 AM
I just did baking soda and vinegar for the first time. It is unbeliveable how much faster the drain runs now.
In a natural cleaning book I read, it says to do this once a week to keep your drains clear and not need the Drano type products.
The vinegar eats the soap scum that holds all the junk in the line.
The vinegar smell disappears within the hour and there isn't really a smell.
I am so glad I tried it.
www.mrsrooster.blogspot.com
Farmgirl #1259
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| katalind |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 07:53:01 AM
I also pour baking soda down drain followed by vinegar. It cleans really well as it fizzes away. When it stops fizzing I then pour very hot water down the drain to finish the job. I also clean my toilets with baking soda and vinegar and let it sit over night - works great! |
| birdie71 |
Posted - Mar 26 2010 : 5:04:29 PM
Ooo! I love this post! I am so glad to hear of natural ways to get the job done! I will give it a try on ours! Thanks Debbie!
Robin
Farmgirl #1301
Farming in the Sonoran Desert? Hmmm?! |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Mar 17 2010 : 10:58:44 AM
Take the little strainer off the tub or sink if it comes off and put something thin in the the hole and pull the hair out. Then pour very hot water with a little liquid dish soap in it down the drain. The soap is slippery and helps things move along.
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| bdhughes77 |
Posted - Mar 17 2010 : 08:59:30 AM
Diana...I love your one work reply...ONCE. Lesson learned,huh?
Debbie
Count your blessings! |
| chaddsgirl |
Posted - Jan 25 2010 : 10:49:56 AM
Ingrid, that is what I have done too. In fact about 2 weeks ago I used washing soada and apple cider vinegar. It worked great!
A person is a success if they get up in the morning and get to bed at night and in between does what they want to do. Bob Dylan
Deeperrootsfarm.etsy.com |
| Ingrid |
Posted - Jan 24 2010 : 7:08:34 PM
Baking soda followed by white vinegar works great and makes the drains smell good.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
| delicia |
Posted - Jan 24 2010 : 3:21:08 PM
I am going to give this a try. I have really thick hair and my drain is running slow. I wonder what the tea does to make it unclog?
 |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Jan 24 2010 : 2:47:38 PM
ONCE
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
| dandelionhouse |
Posted - Jan 24 2010 : 1:45:19 PM
Thanks for the tip Diana! We have a septic system too...I only do it a couple of times a year... How often did you clean your drains using this solution?
Deb~ who's not ready for a new septic system !!! :)
www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com
home is where we all craft the life of our dreams. |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Jan 24 2010 : 1:26:00 PM
Make sure you run lots and lots of water after as the baking soda will stay in crannys and dry up. We had to dig up the septic system once because I had done that.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
