Baking soda and vinegar are kitchen staples that help cook lip-smacking delicacies and are also beneficial in fixing smelly clogs in the toilet bowl!
Being inexpensive and free from harmful chemicals, the baking soda and vinegar combo has 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 that accumulate in drains, such as hair and grease.
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.
Using boiling water to flush the toilet further increases its efficiency since hot water adds pressure to the pipes, releasing all unwanted clogs. Thus, baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water can clean most clogs naturally.
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 some 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.
Step 2
Pour a generous amount of dish soap into the toilet, 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.
Step 3
Using a measuring cup, take one full cup of baking soda and pour it in. If you don’t have a measuring cup, use a funnel to avoid waste. Ensure the soda is settled into the toilet opening and let it rest.
Step 4
Measure one cup of distilled white vinegar and pour it into the toilet after a few minutes. Doing this will cause a visible fizz from the chemical reaction, so try keeping a distance after pouring the vinegar. The more fizz you get, the higher the chances that your drain is unclogging.
Step 5
Wait until the fizzing stops, and boil two cups of water. Then, run it down the toilet drain and flush it a few times.
If the drain is flowing, add more hot water to flush out the remaining debris and dirt that may be stuck to it. However, if the toilet is still blocked, you must repeat the previous steps. Additionally, if you haven’t cleaned your drain for a long time, it is advisable to backflush it with baking soda at least twice.
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 through the drain smoothly. You can also follow it up with some 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 stronger 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 like unclogging blocked toilets with ease and professionalism.
