Plumber shares ‘foolproof’ homemade remedy to unblock drains without chemicals

Households can buy special chlorine-based drain cleaners in shops. However, chlorine is very aggressive and can irritate the skin and airways.  Chlorine is also harmful to the environment and should be used only sparingly. Britons can use far gentler products than chlorine to clear a blocked drain.  Blocked drains are usually caused by organic materials which can be treated very effectively with one particular ‘foolproof’ method ‘fast’, according to plumbing pros at Coastal Drains . They claimed that baking soda and white vinegar is a ‘homemade, all-natural remedy’ that is a ‘great alternative to strong chemical products’.  For maximum benefit, clear the drain with baking soda and vinegar when it will not be needed for a few hours so that it has the opportunity to work to ‘maximum effect’. How to use baking soda for cleaning (Image: EXPRESS) Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed immediately by half a cup of distilled vinegar.  The experts said: ‘The combination will create a fizzing action that will work away the blockage. Leave it to work for at least twenty minutes and then pour a kettle of hot water down the drain to flush away the blockage.’ Bathroom experts,  Villeroy & Boch , also suggest using baking soda and white vinegar to unclog drain blockages. They claimed that when the two chemicals mix, it causes a chemical reaction in the drain which releases carbon dioxide. They said: ‘The bubbling and fizzing of the mixture instantly loosen whatever is causing the blockage.’ Avoid using boiling water as this can damage the pipes (Image: Getty) They suggested leaving the mixture to sit for just 15 minutes before rinsing it with hot water. Avoid using boiling water as this can damage the pipes. For those who can see the blockage right inside the drain, they may have more success reaching in and pulling out the clog.  To do this, wear rubber gloves, remove the drain cover and use a flashlight to look inside the drain. The Costal Drains experts said: ‘If you can see the clog, and it’s within your reach, pull it out with your fingers.’ For those who have tried removing the blockage by hand but couldn’t quite reach it, the next method to try is the bent coat hanger.  Wire coat hangers are an ‘easy solution’ to a blocked drain problem (Image: Getty) Looking for a new home, or just fancy a look? Add your postcode below or visit InYourArea Bend the wire so that it can fit down the plughole easily. Leave the hook at the end to fish out the debris and you have an ‘easy solution’ to a blocked drain problem. The plumbing gurus instructed: ‘Dislodge the blockage by pushing the coat hanger into the pipe until you feel it hit against the blockage.  ‘Then, gently twisting the coat hanger, you should be able to hook the blockage up and out of the drain.’