Clean Drains With Baking Soda

Tip: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

Baking soda is touted as an amazingly frugal cleaning product and it is. But be careful when you rinse it down the drain or the toilet. Baking soda, especially when mixed with hot water, solidifies. I once had a plumber come in after my husband and I could not unstop a kitchen sink which backed up and would not clear. (We lived in New York at the time.) The plumber broke one snake and had to get another and it took 2 hours to cut through the rock that the baking soda had become in the pipe. I had been using just a little baking soda once a week or so to clean the sink and counters for only three months when this happened!

Allison from Arizona

Feedback:

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

Dear Allison I've used Baking soda for years in my drain along with white vinegar,but I make sure it is all melted before rinsing.I let the faucet run for about 2 minutes after using the baking soda.a friend of mine did the same thing you did and she just poured the baking soda down the drain and ran a little water down but some had not melted.she had a plumber in to take the pipes apart.what a mess.I use a lot of vinegar until the soda stops bubbling. (07/02/2004)

By Louise

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

You can put baking soda down your drain and let it sit for about 30 minutes and then pour boiling vinegar down the drains. This works very well. I have been doing this for years. (07/15/2008)

By Becky

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

I've used baking soda several times to unclog drains. I pour it down the drain, then pour hot vinegar down. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then flush with hot water for 5 minutes. I've not had any problems. I do not put baking soda down the drains on a regular basis though. (09/23/2008)

By Sarah in Arizona

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

NEVER have I ever heard this before. I have used baking soda, vinegar and boiling water to break up grease/oil build up and just normal gunk out of my sinks and never has this happened to me. I lived in Arizona as well and this never happened. Was there ever any renovations done in the house or painting done where someone might have cleaned paint pans, grout buckets etc.? That could be what the mass was. Baking soda will actually "melt" with water and especially hot water, even if it is in clumps. (11/10/2008)

By Crockett

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

Wow, I have never heard about this problem. I have been using baking soda and vinegar to clean my drains out every week since I was a kid. My Mom used to use it in the laundromat she and Dad owned for years. I use 1 cup of baking soda (half a small box) and 2 cups of white vinegar (half a quart bottle) each week or so in the kitchen, bathroom sink, bathtub and the laundry tub, then run the water on all... I guess I'll run the water a bit longer now... (12/30/2008)

By katplaysgames1

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

I have used baking soda WITH vinegar for years. No problem.Thank goodness. (01/21/2009)

By roadgypsygranny

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

I have seen the hints about putting baking soda down the drain. The info I read, was to pour about 1 cp of baking soda in the drain and; pour vinegar on top of it. It was amazing. It foamed like mad and cleaned the drain really well.

This was a drain, in a separate sink, that I keep my dish pan in. It got really disgusting under there and I wanted to clean it, without using a bunch of chemicals. When you pour the vinegar on top, it creates a chemical reaction and there is no baking soda left, when it's done, to become hard. (01/21/2009)

By Chris T.

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

Hot water, baking soda and vinegar is the magic potion. If you omit the vinegar you will not get the vigorous foaming action that uses up all the baking soda.

I use baking soda and vinegar on pet stained carpeting. That can leave a powdery residue which is easily swept up. (01/22/2009)

By Tracy

Tip: Clean Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda is touted as an amazingly frugal cleaning product and it is. But be careful when you rinse it down the drain or the toilet. Baking soda, especially when mixed with hot water, solidifies. I once had a plumber come in after my husband and I could not unstop a kitchen sink which backed up and would not clear. (We lived in New York at the time.) The plumber broke one snake and had to get another and it took 2 hours to cut through the rock that the baking soda had become in the pipe. I had been using just a little baking soda once a week or so to clean the sink and counters for only three months when this happened!

Allison from Arizona

Feedback:

RE: Clean Drains With Baking Soda And Vinegar

I agree with the baking soda and vinegar, however, I would not recommend pouring boiling water down the drain if you have plastic pipes. (08/30/2007)

By Syd

RE: Clean Drains With Baking Soda And Vinegar

I pour boiling water down my plastic drain all the time and have never had a problem. I think the drains and pipes are made of something very tough as not only am I using boiling water, I am also using Drain-O! I will try this recipe, though. I like using natural products. especially vinegar and baking soda. (08/31/2007)

By Lisingreece

RE: Clean Drains With Baking Soda And Vinegar

Going to try this. BTW, boiling water down the drain won't hurt this kind of plastic pipe. It is very thick and sturdy. (09/01/2007)

By fionarx