Baking soda and vinegar aren’t just for cooking delicious meals; they’re also handy for tackling those unpleasant toilet clogs!
Being inexpensive and free from harmful chemicals, baking soda and vinegar have been a go-to drain-cleaning household solution for ages. The sodium bicarbonate compound in baking soda can effectively dissolve mineral deposits and organic debris, such as hair and grease, that accumulate in drains.
Moreover, these products have an anti-bacterial property that fights bacteria and odour-causing fungi. So, before you run to the departmental store to buy chemical drain cleaners or call a professional plumber, try using baking soda with vinegar to unclog your toilet.
The Science Behind Unclogging Toilets With Baking Soda And Vinegar
We all know the basic chemical principle that an acid reacts with a base. Baking soda is essentially sodium bicarbonate (a base), whereas vinegar is made from acetic acid and water, which is highly acidic. So, when these two are combined, water and carbon dioxide are released, which moves through the clog and loosens the gunk.
Flushing with boiling water boosts the method’s effectiveness, as the heat adds pressure, helping to dislodge clogs. So, combining baking soda, vinegar, and hot water can naturally clear many blockages.
How To Use Baking Soda And Vinegar To Unclog Toilet
Things You Will Need
- Baking soda
- White Vinegar
- Dish Soap
- Boiling Water
- Salt
- Funnel
- A pot
- A pair of gloves
Steps To Follow
Step 1:
Add hot water to the clogged toilet and try to flush it. But you can skip this if there’s even the slightest chance of overflowing. Then, boil water in a pot or tea kettle on the stove or use a small measuring cup to microwave it.
Step 2:
Pour a generous amount of dish soap into the toilet bowl, followed by the boiling water, and let it sit for a few minutes. This will help the dish soap dissolve the dirt and grease clogging the toilet clog.
Step 3:
Using a measuring cup, pour one full cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl opening. If you don’t have a measuring cup, use a funnel to avoid waste. Ensure the soda is settled into the bowl, and let it rest.
Step 4:
After a few minutes, pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into the bowl. You’ll see fizzing—a good sign! More fizz often means it’s working to unclog the drain, so you might want to stand back a bit.
Step 5:
Wait until the fizzing stops, then boil two cups of water. Then, run the water down the toilet bowl drain and flush it a few times.
With this baking soda and vinegar trick, you can avoid harsh chemical cleaners. It’s an effective, eco-friendly way to clear clogs without harming your bathroom surfaces or plumbing.
Remember, if the toilet clog persists, it’s best to contact a professional plumber who can assess the issue and provide more comprehensive solutions.
If the drain clears, flush with more hot water to wash away any leftover debris. If it’s still blocked, try repeating the steps. For drains that haven’t been cleaned in ages, consider backflushing with baking soda a couple of times.
What To Do If Baking Soda And Vinegar Doesn’t Work
Often, severe toilet clogs are not easy to remove with vinegar and require a more volatile chemical reaction to dissolve the debris. In this situation, baking soda and salt may work better, especially before bedtime, so it gets enough time to unclog the toilet. Do these simple steps:
Step 1
Measure one cup of baking soda and pour it into the clogged toilet.
Step 2
Add half a cup of salt to accelerate the chemical reaction. Let it rest for several hours, preferably overnight, since you might not use the toilet until morning.
Step 3
In the morning, you will find that the fizz has subsided–this is the right time to boil some hot water and pour it into the bowl. To remove excess debris clinging to the drain, flush the toilet with boiling water several times.
Step 4
Even if you run out of hot water, continue flushing with normal tap water until water flows smoothly through the drain. You can also follow up with suction from a plunger to ensure no gunk remains in the drain.
Unclogging a Toilet With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Many people prefer using natural home remedies to address most household problems, including plumbing emergencies such as clogging and overflowing. This is because harsh chemical drain cleaners and more vital acids harm the body when inhaled or remotely touched.
However, it’s not always the best option for severe clogs, which may require professional plumbing techniques using state-of-the-art tools. Woolf Plumbing & Gas offers highly experienced and affordable plumbing services, such as unclogging blocked toilets with ease and professionalism.
