So, you have probably heard of the many wonderful household uses of baking soda, among them, being its ability to unclog drains when mixed with white vinegar, but does it always work, and is it without any risks? Here is a look at this household hack and its potential dangers to your pipes.
Understanding the white vinegar and baking soda DIY
Almost everyone with a plumbing system in their home has experienced the clogging problem at one time or another. Plumbing issues can occur at any time. Even brand-new plumbing installations might cause unexpected complications. Because of these facts, many homeowners look online for DIY solutions thinking it will be simple, save a lot of money, and help score one against the advertisement industry, which continues to try to control people’s lives while pocketing substantial profits from hundreds of advertisements for various cleaning solutions.
While it’s true that the manufacturing of cleaning products has only flourished thanks to breakthroughs in chemistry and tv commercials, natural ingredients can sometimes work, but be careful what you use.
The vinegar and baking soda DIY solution, often taunted as one of the most natural ways to get rid of plumbing clogs, can be damaging to your home’s plumbing system as well.
How does the white vinegar and baking soda cleaning solution work?
Many people believe that a combination of baking soda and vinegar effectively clears even the most stubborn drain obstructions. It’s said to work if you toss baking soda down the pipe, followed by white vinegar, then allow the ingredients to sit for half an hour before you pump in hot water, cover it up and allow the mixture to dislodge the clog.
Is the white vinegar and baking soda cleaning solution effective?
In some cases, this DIY trick can be work, especially if there are no fats (grease, butter, or oil) clogging the drain. Nevertheless, there are risks associated with attempting this technique. One downside is that if you overdo it, it may damage pipes leaving you with a big mess to fix afterwards. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that a baking soda and vinegar solution is not strong enough to deal with stubborn fats; it will just be a waste of time and effort at the same time.
What is the safest way to unclog your drain?
DIY methods may not always be effective; you can try other safe methods. For example, a drain snake is a safe tool for cleaning drains or just use the plunger method. There are chemical-free cleaners, too, if you are sceptical about the ingredients in some of the products being advertised.
However, while it might be less expensive to do the unclogging yourself, you risk bacterial infections, wasting money on unnecessary equipment, and possibly damaging your property. The safest thing to do is hire the services of professionals because the problem might be more severe than you think.
