WHY IS THE NATURAL WAY TO UNCLOG A DRAIN STILL THE BEST?

To use commercial chemicals or use the all natural drain cleaner solution? With the options seemingly endless, it’s difficult to narrow down to one choice. It certainly seems as though the chemical option is the most convenient. After all, you pour it down your drains, leave it be, and then you’re good to go. But there’s always a catch. Whether it be the health risks associated with using dangerous chemicals or the damage down on your pipes, chemical drain solutions are a short-term fix that creates major issues down the line. Here’s why the natural drain cleaner solution is still the best and the best natural ways to unclog a drain.

WHY NATURAL OVER CHEMICAL

Dangerous fumes may remain in your home. When pouring a chemical down your sink, you risk releasing toxic fumes into your indoor environment. This is especially risky because indoor air quality always suffers due to ventilation issues. As such, higher levels of lye and sulfuric acids are exposed in the your home, posing a risk to your family.

Natural drain cleaners are environmentally friendly. Compared to their chemical counterparts, natural drain cleaners don’t pose risks to the environment. Chemical solutions can end up in oceans and lakes and wildlife. Even though we have water treatment plants that our sewer water is sent to, not all chemicals are adequately treated to the same level, leaving wildlife vulnerable.

All natural drain cleaners are cost effective. Depending on the option you take, investing in a drain snake or similar solution is a one-time purchase that works for a long time compared to a bottle of drain cleaner that depending on its quality and use, may need to be replaced often.

Natural drain cleaners are more convenient. This one sounds counterintuitive. There might be a mix of manual labor, mixing, and creativity that goes into a natural solution. For a chemical one, you just pour some solution down the sink. So in the short-term, yes chemical is more convenient. But the wear and tear it has on your pipes (especially if they are PVC which a lot of homes have) is tremendous. Whereas a natural solution does not harm your pipes, a chemical solution risks major damage and can shorten the life of your plumbing pipes. This leads to headaches (and large bills) for repairs and more. So in the long run, the natural solution is the most convenient.

TOP NATURAL DRAIN CLEANER SOLUTIONS

Snake or Wire Hanger. Snakes are essentially wire hangers are designed specifically for clogs in your sink. While you can use a wire hanger, snakes are going to be easier on your pipes. The goal is to get to the root of the clog no matter where it rests in your pipes. This, of course, necessitates getting a snake that is sufficiently long enough for your sink and associated pipes.

Baking Soda & Vinegar. Pour a ½ cup of baking soda to the clogged drain. Next, pour a ½ cup of vinegar. There will be a fizzing reaction where the two meet that should work on the clog. Cover the pipe for at minimum 30 minutes up to an overnight duration. Then, remove the cover and pour boiling water over it.

Baking Soda & Salt. Follow the same steps as the above suggestion but replace vinegar with salt!

Dish Soap & Hot Water. This is an ideal solution for grease-related issues. You want to pour a generous amount of dish soap down the drain to the affected area. Then you’re going to pour boiling water to follow.

Plunger. Do not use the same plunger you use for the toilet! That goes without saying but we’re going to say it anyway. The red cup plunger is actually meant for a flat surface like a kitchen sink and can get to the root of the issue fairly easily.

What Now?

To ensure that you’re not constantly dealing with clogs and drain issues, you should be proactive and regularly check your pipes. This ensures your pipes work efficiently in the long-term and prevents leaks and damages. If you need help with your plumbing and pipe maintenance, reach out to our comfort heroes today!