How to Make Natural Drain Cleaner

A blocked or slow-running drain does not always require a strong drain cleaner. For light build-up, smells and everyday drain cleaning, a simple mixture of bicarbonate of soda and an acidic cleaning solution can be a useful place to start.

APC Pure supplies Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, commonly known as bicarbonate of soda, alongside Acetic Acid 5% Solution. When used together, they create the familiar fizzing reaction often used for home drain cleaning.

What You Will Need

To make a simple natural drain cleaner, you will need:

Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate: Helps loosen light residue, absorb odours and create the fizzing reaction.

Acetic Acid 5% Solution: An acidic cleaning solution that reacts with the bicarbonate of soda.

Hot water: Used afterwards to help rinse loosened residue through the drain.

You may also want a jug, measuring cup and gloves for easy handling.

Before You Start

Make sure the drain has not recently been treated with bleach, a commercial drain unblocker or another cleaning chemical.

Never mix this method with bleach or other drain-cleaning chemicals. If another cleaner has already been used, do not add anything else until the drain has been thoroughly flushed and the product instructions confirm it is safe to do so.

Remove any visible food, hair or other debris from around the drain before starting. A blockage close to the drain opening may be easier to remove by hand or with a suitable drain tool.

Step 1: Add Bicarbonate of Soda

Pour around half a cup of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate directly into the drain.

Try to get as much of the powder into the drain opening as possible rather than leaving it around the sink.

The bicarbonate of soda can help with light residue and unwanted drain smells before the acidic solution is added.

Step 2: Add the Acidic Solution

Slowly pour around half a cup of Acetic Acid 5% Solution into the drain.

The mixture will begin to fizz as the sodium hydrogen carbonate and acetic acid react. This bubbling action can help disturb light residue inside the drain.

Pour slowly to keep the reaction inside the drain rather than allowing the foam to spill back over the sink.

Step 3: Leave It to Fizz

Leave the mixture in the drain for around 10 to 15 minutes.

During this time, the fizzing reaction can help loosen light build-up while the bicarbonate of soda can help with lingering odours.

There is no need to keep adding more product once the fizzing begins.

Step 4: Rinse with Hot Water

Finish by slowly flushing the drain with plenty of hot water.

This helps carry away loosened residue and any remaining bicarbonate from inside the pipe.

If the sink is still draining slowly, avoid repeatedly adding more chemicals. Check for visible debris or try a plunger before deciding whether the blockage needs further attention.

Cleaning a Kitchen Sink Drain

Kitchen sink blockages are often linked to grease, cooking oil and food residue. Try to remove as much visible material as possible before using a drain cleaner.

Do not pour leftover cooking fat or oil down the sink. As it cools, it can stick to the inside of the pipe and trap other debris.

Using a sink strainer can also help catch food before it enters the drain.

Cleaning a Bathroom or Shower Drain

Bathroom and shower drains are more likely to become slow because of hair, soap and other everyday residue.

Remove visible hair from the drain before using the bicarbonate of soda method. If the blockage is mainly hair, a drain snake or similar tool may be more effective than a cleaning solution.

The natural drain cleaner method can then be used to help freshen the drain and rinse away lighter residue.