Unclog Drain with Salt

Unclog Drain with Salt: Fake News?

Looking for a home remedy for clogged drains leads people to read that salt may work to unclog drains. Is this fact or fake news? Will salt water unclog a drain? We wanted to clear this up for everyone trying to use salt for unclogging a drain.

Use our tips below to quickly unclog a drain, but for your next clog emergency make sure you have the best drain auger on hand.

How to Unclog Drain with Salt

Can epsom salt unclog a drain? Can rock salt unclog a drain? It doesn’t matter what type of salt you have on hand, let’s go over the basic steps to use salt for unclogging a drain.

1. Grab half-1 cup of salt (any type you have will do)
2. Boil a half gallon or a full gallon of water
3. Pour your salt down the drain, making sure to get it all down the drain
4. Slowly and carefully pour the water down the drain
5. Let it sit for a few minutes
6. Turn on your faucet and watch as your drain now runs clear, no more clog.

Does Salt Really work to Unclog Drains?

Will Salt unblock a drain? After reading these steps you may think that the salt is working some sort of miracle on the clog of grease and grime in your drain.

When you unclog a drain with salt and hot/boiling water, the salt isn’t actually doing anything: it’s the boiling water that is clearing your pipe of grease and gunk.  But, your problem will remain.  In a short while, your drain will start running slowly again because the main issue, gunk, grease, and debris didn’t dissolve.

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

Will Salt and Vinegar Unclog a Drain?

Pouring salt and vinegar down your drains, then following up with hot water is a trick some people use to unclog their drains. But just like we said above. the hot water is what’s actually working on partially unclogging your drains. The hot water will remove some of your clog for the short term, but long term, you need to clean out your drains and permanently remove the clog with a drain auger.

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.

What is the Best Homemade Drain Cleaner?

The best thing to unclog drains quick and give them a bit of a clean is very hot water. It melts away the clog and washes it down the drain. It works short term and in a pinch. But, your clog will come back because the hot water didn’t thoroughly clean the inside of your drains and remove all the debris and gunk. A drain auger is the best method to clean out your pipes and provide long term relief from any clogging issues.

Conclusion

You can try to unclog a drain with salt, but now you know that the hot water, and not the salt, is doing all the work for you. Check out the best drain auger to save the day the next time your drains get clogged.

FAQs