Healthy and Green Living

My upstairs bathroom sink drain always needs attention: I think toothpaste is the culprit, but whatever, it always needs help.

You don’t need powerful industrial chemicals as the household cleaning industry would have you believe! Find out the surprisingly easy and non-toxic way I keep that drain open.

When our drains get clogged,
we have been unwaveringly convinced that nothing short of the
most powerful chemical arsenal will work. As a result, most of us
resort to commercial drain cleaners that are some of the most
dangerous chemicals found in the home. Lye or acid, these products
can harm health, the wastewater stream, and PVC pipes.

A gentle yet effective approach to coaxing free a clog from a
drain is to use simple household ingredients instead of burning
a hole through the clog with industrial lye or acid. There are
even bacteria-based enzyme cleaners available in health food
stores that eat the clog free from the pipe without harming
everything else in which it comes into contact. And it is always
worth it to try unclogging a drain first with an old-fashioned
plunger; they very often do the trick. If all else fails, you
might try an electric plumber’s snake, but it is recommended
that to prevent injury, only professional plumbers should use this
equipment.

Baking Soda Drain Cleaner
If water hasn’t yet backed up in your drain, pour 1 cup of
baking soda followed by 3 cups of boiling water. The boiling
water will change the chemical composition of baking soda, making it more alkaline. Repeat a few times until the drain is clear.

Washing Soda Drain Cleaner
If the water isn’t going down the drain, pour a cup of washing soda
over the drain area and let it set for a while to work its way down to the clog. Once the clog is loosened, use the baking soda method, above. Washing soda is more alkaline than baking soda, with a pH of 11. You never want to use washing soda if a commercial acid drain cleaner has recently been used in the drain, as they will strongly react with each other. You also shouldn’t overuse washing soda if you have PVC pipes, as the caustic nature of washing soda can slowly damage the plastic.

The Bubbling Method Using Vinegar and Baking Soda
Baking soda and vinegar react with each other to cause bubbles and
fizzing. Sometimes the fizzing can unlodge clogs. Follow the baking soda and boiling water formula, above, with 1 cup of vinegar.

Enzyme Drain and Garbage Disposal Maintenance
All natural living enzyme culture drain cleaners will actually eat and break down any organic matter. Using enzyme drain cleaners once a month, such as Bi-O-Kleen’s Bacout, will help not just your drains, but your septic system. They will also significantly reduce odor from garbage disposals. Colonies of enzymes will actually continue to grow and break down organic matter in your drains .

Washing Soda Maintenance
Enzymes don’t work as well on hair clogs, so to keep drains clear that tend to collect hair, such as in the shower and bath. A few times a month pour 1 cup of washing soda followed by a thorough flushing of water.
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