Clogged drains are a nuisance, and sitting there, waiting for the water to swirl down the drain, is overrated. You may have heard of pouring salt in your sink. Interestingly enough, salt can actually work wonders on the difficult buildup hanging out in the plumbing beneath your sink.
Why Do Drains Clog?
The drain in your sink can become obstructed for a variety of reasons. Although you may think that the grease or food particles you dumped down the drain won’t cause any issues, the buildup of these materials can occur over time.
These particles can adhere to the plumbing beneath your sink, eventually escalating into a full-blown clogged drain.
Luckily, there are some homemade drain cleaners you can try that will help dissolve the buildup in your clogged sink.
Does Salt And Boiling Water Unclog a Drain?
A mixture of salt and boiling water can actually unclog drains.
What you’ll need:
- Epsom salt
- Boiling water
To help dissipate a clog in the pipes beneath your sink, pour a couple of cups of boiling water down the drain. Following the water, pour about two tablespoons of Epsom salt down and let the mixture sit for a minute.
Then, pour another couple of cups of boiling water down the drain. This combination should assist in breaking up the material causing the clog.
It is important to note that the heat of the boiling water may cause the joints of PVC pipes to loosen, so it is not the best option for drains with PVC plumbing.
If you have a porcelain sink, boiling water also may cause the sink to crack, so make sure you do not pour the hot water directly into the sink. Instead, use a funnel or your kettle to pour the water directly down the drain.
Other Methods For Dissipating Clogs
If boiling water and salt did not do the trick, there are a couple of other options to try.
Baking Soda And Salt
Baking soda and salt is a fantastic combo for removing clogs in drains.
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Table salt
- Boiling water
Mix one part of each baking soda and salt with four parts of boiling water. An example of this is half a cup baking soda with half a cup of salt and two cups of hot water. Pour the solution down the drain and let it rest overnight. The next morning, pour hot water down your drain to flush any remnants of the mixture away.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
Another combination instead of a hot salt water mixture is baking soda and vinegar.
What you’ll need:
- Half a box of baking soda
- Half a cup of vinegar
- Boiling water
- Metal stopper for your drain
To rid your drain of clogs with the baking soda and vinegar mixture, start by pouring your half box of baking soda down your drain. Follow the baking soda with half a cup of vinegar, then fit the metal stopper in the drain.
The combination of the two is a recreation of the volcano experiment that fifth graders do at the science fair. It will bubble and froth within the drain, helping to unstick the stubborn clogs from the plumbing.
Let the mixture work its magic in the sink for 30 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain to flush the drain of any remnants of the mixture.
Drain Snake
If you have PVC pipes beneath your sink, boiling water methods are not a good option for you. A drain snake can help remove difficult clogs in the drain of your sink. However, when using the snake, make sure you don’t get too overzealous and get the snake stuck in the drain.
Using a drain snake is a bit more complex than utilizing a mixture of baking soda, salt, or vinegar. If you are unsure of whether you can do this, enlist the help of a professional.
Why Should You Pour Salt Down Your Drain Before Bed?
Pouring a salt mixture down your drain before bed, such as the combination of baking soda and salt, will help rid your drain of clogs. Letting the baking soda and salt mixture sit overnight allows it more time to do what it needs to do. The combination will work to break down emulsified fats and grease throughout the night so the boiling water can flush it away the following morning.
Which Method Should You Do To Unclog Your Sink?
There are an array of homemade drain cleaners to use as a solution for your clogged sink. If you have PVC pipes that compose the plumbing beneath your sink, boiling water is not the best option to remove built-up material in your sink. The drain snake might be a better option if this is the case.
Overall, using salt as a component in a homemade drain cleaner is an excellent option for dissipating those tough clogs that hang out in your sink. Salt can work wonders at night while you study the backs of your eyelids, leaving you with a clog-free drain in the morning.
However, if you have a stubborn clog that you cannot seem to remove, enlist the help of a professional plumber who can remove the clog without causing any additional damage.