Unclog a Drain with Vinegar

Unclog Drain with Vinegar: How-to 

If you have a clogged drain, you’re probably desperate to get it unclogged as fast as possible.  Get back to using your sink with the step-by-step instructions.  And remember: the best way to remove clogs is to use a drain auger.  In a pinch, follow the steps below. 

1. Gather your vinegar, a bowl, and fill a pot with water on the stove 
2. Boil a small pot of water, so you have at least 2-3 cups of water 
3. Carefully pour ½ of you boiled water down your drain 
4. Mix 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water 
5. Pour down your drain 
6. Wait 5 minutes or so 
7. Pour the rest of your boiling water down your drain  
8. Enjoy, your drain should now be unclogged! 

Unclog a Drain with Vinegar: Fake News? 

Yes.  The vinegar isn’t really unclogging your drain at all.  It’s the boiling water.  Boiling water dissolves the gunk and grease that is holding the clog together.  The clog slides down the drain once the boiling hot water dissolves the gunk.   

Don’t waste your vinegar.  Instead, install a debris catcher in the sink drain to capture any chunks before they go down the drain and dispose of all greasy items in the trash. 

Is it safe to Pour Vinegar down the Drain?

Yes, you can pour vinegar down any drain. There is no chemical reaction created. Safety note: do not mix bleach with vinegar because it creates chlorine gas even when mixed in small amounts.

Talon Drain Cleaner – Professional Grade 

Exactly what you’d expect from a professional grade product like this.

You can grab Talon Drain Opener in either 1 pound or 2 lb containers. The bottle pictured here is the 2 pound container, which we always have on hand.  And the 2lb container is a great deal, costing only about 10$ more than the 1 pound container.

Our Verdict: WORKS AWESOME

Drain Clog Prevention

Here are some tips to prevent future drain clogs:

• Watch that the kids put anything down the drains
• Clean out your pipes twice per year with a drain auger
• Grease should be poured into a container and thrown out, not down your toilet
• Use a drain catcher in your sink drains to catch any debris that gets into the sink

Cost of Hiring a Plumber Versus Buying a Drain Auger

Hiring a plumber to unclog your drains costs anywhere from $100- 250, depending on the area and how complicated the clog is. A drain auger can be as cheap as $30. You can also use your drain auger as many times as you like, so I consider it an investment.

Cost of Hiring a Plumber Versus Buying a Drain Auger

Hiring a plumber to unclog your drains costs anywhere from $100- 250, depending on the area and how complicated the clog is. A drain auger can be as cheap as $40 ish. You can also use your drain auger as many times as you like, so consider it an investment.

Baking Soda and Vinegar to Unclog a Drain

Mixing these two creates a chemical reaction with does help with removing some very surface level gunk from the inside of your pipes. And because it doesn’t create heat during the chemical reaction, it’s safe for use in pipes and toilet. After putting them in your drains, you pour hot water down the drain, which is ACTUALLY the thing that’s clearing your pipes not the baking soda and vinegar themselves. Save your vinegar and baking soda and just use hot water next time.

We talk about this in detail in our post HERE.

Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar instead of White Vinegar to Unclog a Drain

Yes, you can use apple cider vinegar instead, although, white vinegar is cheaper so we prefer to use that. Or as discussed above, just try hot water first and see if that clears out your clog. If not, you should look into buying drain auger.

Conclusion 

You can unclog a drain with vinegar, but really, it’s the boiling hot water that is doing all the work.  Save your vinegar and just pour boiling water down your drains to clear out clogs fast. 

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