Home |  Index |  Submit Request |  Share Photos |  Share Tips |  Active Topics |  New Feedback  |  Contact Us  |  Search
 User Login:  Username:    Password:      Forgot It?  | Join ThriftyFun!

 Popular Topics
 - Beauty
 - Budget and Finance
 - Christmas *
 - Cleaning
 - Consumer Advice
 - Craft Projects
 - Craft Tips
 - Food Tips
 - Garage Sales
 - Gardening
 - Gifts
 - Green Living
 - Home Improvement
 - Organizing
 - Parenting
 - Parties
 - Pest Control
 - Pets
 - Product Reviews
 - Recipes
 - Repair
 - Thanksgiving
 - Weddings for Less

More Topics

Google Search:

Web thriftyfun.com

About:
RSS Feed
About Us
Media
Advertising
Contact Us
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer

Keeping Baking Soda from Clogging Pipes

1x1
Date: 06/04/2005 Topics: Cleaning > Advice | Readers Request > Cleaning  
1x1
1x1
Post Feedback! | Email Friend | Print | Get Responses | Bookmark | del.icio.us | Link | Rate: Thumbs Up Thumbs Down
Years ago I used baking soda to clean my kitchen sinks and countertops. But then we found out that the washed away soda had over six months become a rock in my kitchen sink pipes. It cost almost $200 to have it snaked out and it broke two of the plumber's snakes before he could break it up.

I've seen advice to use baking soda on this site and I'm wondering how others are avoiding ruining their plumbing. What did I do wrong? I'm practically stingy so I know I didn't use very much at a time. And I'm not the best housekeeper so it wasn't as if I was cleaning constantly...

Allison


Jump to Feedback | Post feedback
Related Links:
Previous: My Pit Bull Pup Thinks my Hands Are the Enemy ThriftyFun Next: Silly Putty Stain
1x1
 Feedback
1x1
1x1
1x1
1x1
 Sponsors
1x1
1x1

Post By Aiyana (Guest Post) (06/21/2008)
I simply boil water in a couple large stainless steel pots, put a half a cup baking soda in each drain and vinergar in each pot, and then wash it down the drain. Has never given me problems and I know it works because it fizzes up quite a bit.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Aiyana (Guest Post) (06/21/2008)
I simply boil water in a couple large stainless steel pots, put a half a cup baking soda in each drain and vinergar in each pot, and then wash it down the drain. Has never given me problems and I know it works because it fizzes up quite a bit.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By AJ (Guest Post) (01/21/2007)
This is the first I have EVER, EVER heard of this. My father taught me to use baking soda and vinegar for years when we had serious clogs both to prevent and to clear. The chemical reaction is better than ANY commercial product, cheaper and NOT harmful to the environment.

Are you sure you weren't paid by Drano and Liquid Plummr to post this?

Editor's Note: Make sure you use vinegar until it stops fizzing, otherwise the baking soda can clog your pipes. Baking soda alone is not a good idea.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Linda (Guest Post) (06/17/2005)
I swear by baking soda and vinegar , used as above. Then after all the fizzing stops run lot hot water down the drain for a few minutes.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by ThriftyFun (3740) | (06/07/2005)
Profile |Blog! |Contact
I have used baking soda and vinegar for years with no problems. The key here is to use maybe a tablespoon or two of baking soda followed by however much vinegar it takes until it stops fizzing. Then follow with water.

If you think you have a problem with build up from baking soda, pour vinegar down the drain and listen for the fizzing. Vinegar will remove scale and lime if it sits next to it long enough so pour straight vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 1/2 hour or so before running water through the drain.

Vinegar will help clear drains on its own because it can clear out some of the grease but I think the foaming action of both baking soda and vinegar works the best at breaking up clogs.

Susan from ThriftyFun

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by grammar (220) | (06/07/2005)
Contact
Hi used this once too~~soda and vinegar and it fizzed up and then went solid. It scared me cause I didn't want to call a plumber so I used something to dig as much as I could and rinsed it with very hot water and swore I'd never do it again. I'm not sure how other people do it either

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By wendee (Guest Post) (06/06/2005)
Allison didn't say she was cleaning the drains with baking soda, just the sink and counter tops. I wonder if maybe a bit more water to rinse the sink would help next time.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by ThriftyFun (3740) | (06/06/2005)
Profile |Blog! |Contact
I agree that you need vinegar, too. The two make a chemical reaction that uses up the soda. Make sure to keep putting vinegar in until the fizzing stops.
Susan from ThriftyFun

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by coolchinchilla (25) | (06/06/2005)
Contact
Did you use vinegar with the baking soda? I think vinegar prevents the buildup of the soda. I will put salt down the drain with hot water and that helps keep it flowing too.

coolchinchilla

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by arose58 (3) | (06/06/2005)
Contact
If you are using just baking soda with salt and/or water, it will solidify.
I use baking soda & vinegar. It doesn't take much, about the same of each, sometimes a little more vinegar. The foaming dissolves the baking soda. You also need to run water for a minute or so after it quits foaming to clear everything out. Have used this for 2oyrs. No problems. Hope this helps.

Report Spam or Abuse


1x1

Post Feedback:
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback if you have registered with ThriftyFun. If you have not yet registered, click here. It's FREE!. If you are not registered you can post feedback as a guest below. Please don't use your email address for your name because spam robots can dredge it from our site. Please do not post your feedback more than ONCE. We need to approve all guest feedback and it may take from minutes to hours for that to happen.
(1x1 graphic )
Your Name

Subject

Feedback

text tool text tool text tool text tool

Image Upload: Add an image to your post! Click the "Browse" button below and select an image from your hard drive. Please only select gifs or jpegs. If you have any problems, just email the image to images@thriftyfun.com

  

If you want to post your email address for responses from readers, obscure it in some way like put spaces between the name and @ sign and service address with (remove spaces) behind it or name (at) server (dot) com . This is for your protection from those creepy Robots.

(1x1 graphic )

© 1997-2008ThriftyFun.com - Design by Cumuli Design
Disclaimer: ThriftyFun.com cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. Read the full disclaimer. If you find any information on ThriftyFun.com or in our newsletters that is either erroneous and/or potentially harmful to others, please Contact Us, immediately.