Making Your Own Drain Cleaner

What do toothpaste, hair, your wedding ring, and chunks of food all have in common?

They can all get stuck in your drain!

You could go out and buy a store-brand drain cleaner to help you on this do-it-yourself home project, or you could learn to make an effective and affordable drain cleaner, while feeling like a scientist.

This homemade drain cleaner recipe will clear your drain out very well for only a portion of the cost of going out to buy a brand-name drain cleaner.

All you're going to need is about a half a box of baking soda and some vinegar.

If you would like, you can even put your own brand name on the mix for added effect.

Follow these steps and watch your drain clear out:

• First, pour half a box of baking soda down your drain.
• Next, pour vinegar in your drain to create the foaming action, allowing the mix to break down and eat through the grime of your drain.
• Let the foam settle down and repeat the previous step, pouring vinegar to create the foaming action until there's no baking soda left.
• Let your drain sit untouched for about 30 minutes, so that the process may be more effective.
• Finally, flush the drain with hot water to clear any remaining debris.

This method is perfect for clearing out your drain if you notice that it is draining slowly; however, what can you do if time isn't on your side, and the homemade drain cleaner didn't work as well as you hoped? Here are a few more solutions on unclogging a drain if the homemade drain cleaner isn't strong enough for the severity of your case, and you don't have the time to utilize professional help from a plumbing company:

Clean the Pipe
Put an empty bucket underneath the U-shaped pipe, referred to in world of plumbing as "the trap," directly beneath your sink. Take out a plumber's wrench to loosen the slip nuts at both sides of the pipe, but remember to finish the job by taking the slip nuts off by hand. Remove the trap by hand, and the contents of the trap will pour into your bucket. Yes, you will get dirty, but just think of it as a game show challenge. Get an old toothbrush (or your significant other's toothbrush) or something else to take out any gunk in the open pipes. When you're done, rinse the trap, and connect it back to the sink.

Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, is something you can find at any hardware store. The first thing you need to do is put on a pair of rubber gloves and some eye protection, because this can cause chemical burns if handled improperly. Fill a mop bucket with � gallon of cold water, and add 3 cups of the sodium hydroxide. Mix it together with a wooden spoon until it begins to fizz and heat up. Pour this mixture into the drain, and leave it there for 30 minutes. After this time has passed, flush the drain with boiling water.

If these methods don't help to unclog or clear your drain, you may need to call a professional plumbing company. These methods are only quick fixes, and are not as efficient as the job that a professional plumbing service can do.

If you live in the St. Petersburg, Florida area consider calling a professional plumbing company to come and help you with any type of drain or pipe problem in your home or business. Scotto Plumbing Services Inc has been serving the Clearwater area since 1979!

Article Source: Making Your Own Drain Cleaner