Drain Cleaners: Safely Unclogging Your Drain

At Murrayville Plumbing, we understand that nobody enjoys having to unclog a drain; however, when you do have to face this unwelcome task, you should be careful about the products that you choose to poor down your drain. Our team of certified Langley plumbers want to help you unclog your sink in a way that will not be harmful to your pipes and to the environment. That is why we have put together a list of some simple natural drain cleaners that can help your safely unclog your drain.

Natural DIY Drain Cleaners

DIY drain cleaners tend to work best if you use them routinely to help prevent clogs from building up in your drains. It is important to keep in mind that DIY drain cleaners will likely take a little longer to work and you may have to repeat the process more than once. Some of the best DIY drain cleaners are:

  • Baking soda and cider vinegar – the most commonly used DIY drain cleaner is one cup of baking soda mixed with one cup of cider vinegar. The chemical reaction from mixing these two products creates an intense foaming action, which you can follow with plenty of hot running water for a good maintenance routine.
  • Baking soda with lemon juice – combine one cup of baking soda with one cup of lemon juice to create your DIY drain cleaner. While lemon juice might be more expensive than vinegar, using it works just as well, while also creating a more pleasant scent. Make sure to run plenty of hot water after the baking soda and lemon juice foam for up to a few minutes.
  • Salt, borax, and vinegar – combine together 1/4 cup of salt, 1/4 cup of borax, and 1/2 cup of vinegar, and pour it down the drain followed by plenty of hot water. While this mixture might take a while to work, it will eventually unclog your drain.
  • Boiling – most clogs are the by-product of fats and oils getting cold in the pipe and solidifying. Sometimes just using a kettle of boiling water will clear the clog, but be careful to pour the water directly down the drain to avoid causing any damage to any plastics or porcelain.

The Negative Effects of Toxic Drain Cleaners

While using DIY drain cleaners might seem like a slow process, they are ultimately better for your pipes and the environment. This is because most of the chemicals in commercial drain cleaners, particularly the off-brand and inexpensive brands, have high toxicity levels. These chemicals also tend to have hydrochloric acid, which can gnaw at the pipes as it sits in them, destroying the enamel and the other expensive finishes in your kitchen or bathroom. The chemicals in commercial drain cleaners are also terrible for the environment, as it is a poison to fish and other wildlife.

If you would like to learn more about drain cleaners and how to safely unclog your drain, or if you are interested in one of our services, please contact Murrayville Plumbing at 778-888-6451 or by filling out a contact form on our website.

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