Washing Soda to Unclog Drains

No lye, you can keep your drains from clogging a kinder and gentler way.

Washing soda is an excellent choice for helping drains stay clear because while it is alkaline—a pH of 11—it isn’t as caustic and damaging as the commonly used lye-based commercial product.

Ideally, use washing soda on your drains once a week to keep them clear. Just pour 1/4 cup or so down the drain, and then flush with water.

Washing soda is found in the laundry section of the supermarket. You can use baking soda instead by pouring 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by three cups of boiling water.

The boiling water will change the chemical composition of baking soda to become more alkaline like washing soda. If you already have a clog, try pouring 1 cup of washing soda (or baking soda) down the drain followed by three cups of boiling water. Repeat two or three times.

If you still have a clog, try pouring down 1 cup of vinegar. Being an acid, the vinegar will neutralize the washing soda or baking soda and there will be some foaming and gurgling, but sometimes this agitation is all that is needed in the end to dislodge the grime.

Read more: Home, Household Hints, Non-Toxic Cleaning

By Annie B. Bond

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Terry V.

2:23PM PDT on May 20, 2012

thanks

send a green star

Adam K.

11:53PM PDT on Apr 4, 2012

I heard that cancer cannot stand highly alkaline ph, and also oxygen it cannot stand. so if diet soda were highly alkaline instead of highly acidic (ph 2), it just might possibly cure cancer. Medical vegan nutrition, fruit and vegetable juices, raw foods and cooked vegan foods, are said to cure cancer.

KS G.

5:47AM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Danuta W.

1:02AM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

Thanks for the great article.

Katie K.

10:00AM PDT on Mar 14, 2012

Add lemons to the mix and you can clean just about anything eco friendly in your entire living space. Another quick hint is using pepper flakes (like you find in a pizza parlor) to get rid of ants without using insecticides that can poison pets, children or yourself. If only we could get everyone on board we might still have a fighting chance of cleaning up Mother Earth before she turns her wrath on us.

Donna H.

10:30AM PDT on Mar 13, 2012

Great tip. Thanks for posting.

Mary Beth M.

1:06PM PDT on Mar 12, 2012

great idea!

Kamryn M.

7:03AM PDT on Mar 12, 2012

tried the soda & vinegar thing 6 times for a slightly clogged/slow drain, had absolutely no effect.

Carol Ann O.

6:37AM PDT on Mar 12, 2012

Hate using strong drain chemicals but hate clogged drains more. Try to do a weekly maintainance but resort to draino about twice a year