Easy Homemade Drain Cleaner And Drain Opener Recipe (2024)

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You can make this easy homemade drain cleaner and drain opener recipe with ingredients you already have at home an it works well for most clogs!

Easy Drain Cleaner And Drain Opener

1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
4 cups boiling water

Pour baking soda into drain and then pour vinegar on top of it. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Pour boiling water down the drain. You may need to repeat this process if your drain doesn’t come unclogged the first time. This will clean out a lot of clogs so try it first before running to the store to buy a commercial drain opener.

Tip: Don’t throw away the baking soda used to freshen your fridge. Use it as a cleaning scrub or pour down your drain to clear clogs.

This homemade drain cleaner recipe is from our cookbook:

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Jennifer
June 22, 2010 at 11:24 am

I’ve done this for years! It works well and also remove the odors that may have been coming from the sink. If you have a garbage disposal, you can also cut up a lemon and run it through the garbage disposal to get a fresh clean smell in your kitchen.
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Reply
- Dawn
  March 19, 2023 at 5:05 am
  
  Thank you!
  Reply
Paula
July 4, 2010 at 1:26 am

I also found “pipe snakes” (not the plumber tool) on QVC. They are basically vinyl coated wire with a mascara brush on one (for sinks), and a square of velcro on the other (for tubs etc)…They go in and snag hair/soap deposits. I paid under $20 for 2 sets of them. Sometimes the vinegar won’t break the hair and soap blockage…Works GREAT!! We have a teenager who loves to wash her hair!!….Also, keep a bottle of DAWN dish soap behind the toilet or under the bathroom sink… A plumber told me to squeeze some into the tank once a week to keep it from getting cruddy and it also helps if the toilet is flushing slow…This works for too much paper/poop and is not for matchbox cars, small toys or Herbie the hamster!LOL
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- Tawra
  July 4, 2010 at 8:49 pm
  
  Thanks for letting us know about this. I was wondering if they worked and am going to go out and get one!
  Reply
- Jill
  July 5, 2010 at 10:10 am
  
  I have watched those on QVC too and wondered if they worked. Thanks. Good tips.
  Reply
Vivian
November 4, 2010 at 3:20 am

My mom had told me to freeze vinager in ice trays and put about four into the disposal and turn it on. The vinager will clean all parts of the disposal and take care of the oder.
Reply
JAMES R.
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May 28, 2013 at 12:39 pm

I had heard/read that Epsom Salt can be used either in a home made cleaner or it was a home made cleaner…
Can someone tell me if this is true or not? I have a 1 or 2 pound bag collecting dust I inherited from a neighbor, & I just have no idea what to do with it….
Reply
- Jill
  May 28, 2013 at 2:15 pm
  
  Some uses for epsom salt is to add 1-2 Tablespoons to a gallon of water for your grass, house plants or garden plants. It is good sprinkle some in the hole when you are planting your rose bushes, or tomato plants. Add some to water to soak out splinters or for cleaners mix equal parts dish soap and salts for cleaning grout and tile. It is really good to use to take hot baths in which is suppose to help with headaches, itching from bug bites, and soaking in a bath of this helps kids sleep better.
  Reply
Natalie Darcy
July 24, 2015 at 9:13 am

I have been having trouble with the drain in one of my bathrooms, and it is difficult to maintain. I really appreciate learning about a cleaner like this that I can make myself, and include in my maintenance routine. Thank you for such a specific article and the detailed instructions. I will be trying this out soon!
Reply
Natalie Darcy
October 5, 2015 at 9:55 pm

I have had issues with a particular bathroom sink for a while. My daughter uses it more often and she has very long hair. Do you think that this could be a contributing factor? Anyway, I appreciate a quick and easy method to fix this type of problem since I have it so often. I will definitely be trying this out the next time the sink has an issue, thank you!
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- Jill
  October 6, 2015 at 7:35 am
  
  That probably is the problem Natalie. I was having the same problem with my long hair. What I did was what we use to do in the olden days :) and that is I put a small vanity in the bedroom and now blow dry, curl and fix my hair in there. I also brush my hair really well before I take a shower. I have had no drain problems for ages and my bathroom is almost totally hair free. I also can relax more doing my hair because I do it sitting down and it frees up the bathroom if someone else needs in there.
  Reply
John Anderson
November 3, 2015 at 6:49 pm

When I had a clogged drain I would get a cleaner and pour it down the drain. Most of they time it did not work, so I found different ways of unclogging my drains. I’ll have to try the baking soda, vinegar, and water cleaner, looks like a safe and easy way to get the job done. Thanks
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- Jill
  November 3, 2015 at 8:04 pm
  
  One thing about this recipe and many like it is that it works best if it is used on a regular basis to more help keep drains clog free or for drains that are very sluggish.
  Reply
Aurora Lyman
February 9, 2016 at 3:55 am

Great tip! I just moved to my new place and few days later found the drain in the kitchen was clogged. I had no idea who to call so searched for some ideas and your post came exactly on time. Te mixture worked quite good and cleaned what was in that drain. I’m having your idea on mind for emergency cases and I’m definitely recommending it to some friends. Thank you for sharing!
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- Jill
  February 9, 2016 at 8:23 am
  
  You are welcome Aurora. One tip for your new place is to be sure to use this recipe every once in awhile on your drains even if they aren’t clogged because it will keep them open and running good. Sometimes if we let them go too long or forget they can get so badly clogged that you have to take other measures to unclog them so it pays to use it as a preventative.
  Reply
  - Aurora Lyman
    February 9, 2016 at 11:31 pm
    
    Thank you, Jill. I’ll have this on mind :)
    Reply
Jack
November 11, 2016 at 10:33 am

Came across the coolest tool Drain-FX. I heard about it on the Gary Sullivan show and ordered it online. I was able to clear all my drains-sinks, showers & tub. Highly recommend it.
Reply