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    Home » HEALTH » Natural Living

    How to unclog a sink or a bathtub naturally

    Published: Nov 25, 2009 / Modified: Dec 21, 2020 by: Dr. Karen Lee / This post may contain affiliate links. As Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. /

    This post explains how to unclog a sink or bathtub naturally without toxic chemicals. It's very effective and it also prevents future clogs if you use the method regularly.
    Faucet water flowing down a sink drainMy bathtub was semi-clogged last week. I hate having sloshing water at my feet when I am in the shower. (Who does?)

    So, I tried the only natural method I know, since commercial drain cleaner has Sodium Hydroxide, which is a very caustic substance, bleach and other chemicals that I wouldn't want in the house.

    There are various methods of using baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain. But this method seems to work the best for me.

    How to unclog a sink or a bathtub

    1. Pour ½ C of baking soda into the drain followed by hot boiling water. Sodium Bicarbonate - baking soda - and hot water reacts with any kind of grime and loosens up the gunk.

    2. Then, add 1 C of vinegar and quickly cover the drain, sealing the bubbling gas - remember the erupting volcano experiment for Middle School science project? When you add vinegar (acid) to baking soda (basic), which is sitting on top of the gunk in the clogged drain, the combination creates gas and it bubbles up like a volcano, loosening up the gunk some more. If you have a hole on the side of the sink or tub, you can close that off too for better result but I never had to.

    3. Add more hot water to push the loosened up gunk down the drain further, until it's all clear. You may have to repeat this procedure a few times before you start seeing all the black gunk come up.

    Normally, a few times, if not less, should do it.

    But if this doesn't work, you may need some help. You may need to physically remove the gunk, the old fashion way.

    For Stubborn Clogs

    1. If the drain is still clogged, run the faucet with hot water until the water pools about 3 inches on the bottom of the tub.

    2. Take a small kitchen plunger (Amazon Link)- NOT the large toilet kind - and push down and seal around the rubber ring completely against the bottom of the tub or the sink. And then, with one swift motion, lift the plunge quickly.

    3. Repeat if necessary, until the water drains. Since I used the baking soda and vinegar method to loosen up the gunk in steps 1. through 3., I only had to use the plunger once and all the black gunk came up and then drained completely, unclogging the tub. And don't be shocked at all the black, nasty gunk that the drain throws up. Not pretty.

    Also, to prevent drains from clogging, pour about ½ Cup of baking soda in the drain, followed by hot boiling water. I occasionally to this...if I remember....and if I'm motivated.

    OK, I'm going to do that from now on and not wait until it clogs.

    And buy a smaller holed strainer for the drain to catch all my hair.

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    About Dr. Karen Lee

    I am a food writer, recipe developer, and a cookbook author sharing my family’s favorite simple & easy, allergy-friendly recipes with you! Let's connect on Instagram || Facebook || Pinterest || YouTube Learn more about me on the ABOUT page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. DIane says

      October 30, 2015 at 4:59 pm

      WOW was really impressed how quickly my bathroom sink unclogged by following your advice!! Everything I needed was already in my home. How great it was not to have to leave the house and spend $7.00 on Drano/Liquid Plummer!! THANKS!

      • Dr. Karen says

        October 30, 2015 at 9:35 pm

        That's awesome Diane! And Drano/Liquid Plummer is very toxic too! Glad this worked for you!

    2. Stephie Smith says

      August 26, 2015 at 1:48 pm

      This is good to know! My kitchen sink has been draining quite slowly. I'll have to try this baking soda and vinegar solution you recommended 🙂 If all else fails, I can shut off the water and check the pipes below the sink to see if there's any serious blockage. It definitely saves money on hiring a plumber!

    3. Jen Eyers-McLaughlin says

      July 17, 2013 at 10:46 pm

      Works the same. My friends plumber Dad swears by it.

    4. ecokaren says

      July 17, 2013 at 8:05 pm

      I never heard that method before. How about bathtubs?

    5. Jen Eyers-McLaughlin says

      July 17, 2013 at 5:17 pm

      I use gravity to help clear mine
      . Plug the sink while washing your face, washing hands etc etc throughout the day. When it is full I let it sit for a few hours. Then I release it and the weight of the water clears everything out.

    6. Brenna Burke says

      July 17, 2013 at 4:26 pm

      I always use this and it works great!

    7. David Leonhardt says

      July 17, 2013 at 1:51 pm

      It works!

    8. ecokaren says

      July 17, 2013 at 12:39 pm

      I put a bathtub plug to seal it. But you also should seal the vent holes so gas doesn't escape.

    9. ecokaren says

      July 17, 2013 at 12:38 pm

      That's great! No more toxic fumes spewing from the drain, right?

    10. Julianna Holden Mohler says

      July 17, 2013 at 12:37 pm

      What did you use to seal the drain once you poured the vinegar in there?

    11. Julianna Holden Mohler says

      July 17, 2013 at 12:34 pm

      Ah! Then I guess we were lucky =)

    12. ecokaren says

      July 17, 2013 at 12:33 pm

      I tried one of those gadgets and it got stuck. In fact, originally, I wrote about it, saying how it didn't work and it only made my life miserable because I had to figure out a way to get it unstuck. I have one of those drains that have cross bars about an inch down from the surface. So it didn't work for me.

    13. Adrienne Frederick Kirschner says

      July 17, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      Yes! I've unclogged two of my sinks using this method. It works great!

    14. Julianna Holden Mohler says

      July 17, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      I was also worried about chemicals, thanks for the tip! I used this device and it worked so well, I didn't have to use anything at all! If it had still been a slow drain, I would've needed a natural remedy like this. Thanks for sharing. This stick really, really worked for me. Gross, but it worked! Just push it down the drain & pull up all the lovely stuff that was clogging it. http://www.mygofer.com/shc/s/p_10175_27151_005W005611798002P?ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=005W005611798002&sid=MDx20122301x0001gpla

    15. GoingGreeninParadise says

      May 06, 2011 at 10:14 am

      Just tried it on my sink and it totally worked!

    16. BululuStudio says

      November 25, 2009 at 12:40 pm

      Thank goodness you didn't have to use any harsh chemical, and thank God for your mom that saved you some money also.

      • Dr. Karen says

        November 26, 2009 at 9:43 am

        That's my mom - always saving me and the planet.

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