Bad-smelling drains are a telltale sign that they need professional drain cleaning, as this prevents more serious plumbing issues such as sewer clogs.
Alternatives to commercial chemical drain cleaners that could harm pipes, eyes and lungs include these simple home methods for safe yet effective drain cleaning:
1. Pour Boiling Water Down the Drain
Boiling water can be an economical and straightforward solution to drain clogs caused by grease accumulations, working well against grease clogs. Boiling water dissolves the gunk while acting as an natural scouring agent that forces it out of your pipe. If this method does not work, try using other means, such as drain snakes or wire hangers with care to avoid scalding yourself or anyone around you.
Pour half a cup of baking soda followed by half a cup of vinegar into your drain to create a fizzing sound and help dissolve hair, soap scum, and other debris from clogging your pipes. Do this once every week as part of an anti-clog strategy – also be sure to dispose of cooking grease properly, compost or discard coffee grounds responsibly, and utilize mesh drain covers to trap hair or debris!
2. Use a Plunger
Plungers are among the most effective tools for clearing away clogs. Sometimes known as force cups or plumber’s friends, plungers consist of a stick equipped with a rubber bell attached to its bottom end that serves as its handle – push or pull the handle downward to seal off drains while simultaneously pushing air down, or pull upward to create vacuum force and pull blockage material away.
Before plunging, make sure the sink is filled with enough water so that the plunger’s cup forms a tight seal around the drain. In double sinks, a rag may help form this seal as well. After 20 seconds of pushing and pulling, the clog should have been sufficiently broken down for water to flow freely again.
3. Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (dilute acetic acid) combine to form an inexpensive chemical reaction that can easily open blocked drains. Moreover, this hack avoids toxic sodium hydroxide (commonly referred to as lye) found in many store-bought drain cleaners.
Use this hack by pouring half a cup of baking soda down your drain followed by one cup of vinegar, and watch for its fizzing action and release of carbon dioxide gas. Allow this combination to sit for at least an hour or overnight and flush it away using boiling water.
Be mindful that this method may not work on stubborn, long-term clogs – it should only be used as a preventive measure or to periodically freshen up smelly drains.
4. Use Biological Cleaners
Biological drain cleaners use enzymes and bacteria to digest gunk that accumulates in pipes. While their speed of action may differ from chemical solutions, these safe solutions offer reduced potential clogs in future.
Bio drain cleaners utilize active ingredients derived from natural sources like plants, animals or soil; furthermore they tend to be less costly than caustic chemical solutions.
Bio drain cleaners are designed to target specific clogs, including hair, soap scum or food waste clogs. FOG cleaners work by dissolving fats, oils and grease (FOG) from drain lines; therefore enabling your garbage disposal to run more smoothly as well as keeping drain lines clear of build-up. Plus they’re safer for pipes as well as being ideal for use in septic systems!
5. Use Enzymatic Cleaners
Enzymatic drain cleaners provide an environmentally-friendly option that is safer than chemical cleaners for your plumbing system, without producing toxic fumes that put both you and your pipes at risk. With no harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere, these enzymatic products actually promote good bacteria health while helping keep septic systems operating at full efficiency.
These cleaners utilize bacteria to break down organic waste, including food particles, hair, skin cells and toxins; it also populates drains and pipes with healthy bacterial cultures for added sanitation.
Enzymatic cleaners take longer than other drain cleaning products (usually overnight), but are safer, more eco-friendly options that help prevent odors while breaking down stains. Plus they’re great at eliminating odors!