Unclog Your Bathtub Drain Without Using Dangerous Chemical or Paying Joe the Plumber

In the past, when my wife informed or reminded me about water setting in the bathtub again, I had two choices:

1. Head over to Lowe's or Home Depot to grab a can of drain opener, usually with a pungent smell, or
2. Call a plumber, who usually charged no less than $50, even if it took the guy 5 minutes to unclog our drain.

No more. I read about a safe and thrifty way of unclogging the bathtub drain. It's a simple solution that works every time.

You will need the following:

1. Screw driver that fits your drain cap/cover
2. One gallon of boiling water
3. Baking soda; I use Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda
4. Table salt; I use Han Sea Salt
5. White Vinegar; I use Kroger Distilled White Vinegar

Here are the steps:

1. Place one gallon of water on the stove and let it boil.
2. Pour 1 cup of baking soda into a bowl.
3. Pour 1 cup of salt into the bowl. Mix the baking soda and salt.
4. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the baking soda and salt mix. Expect a boiling sound and lots of foam. Stir the mix with a spoon or bread knife.
5. Remove the cover from your drain, so you can look directly in the hole. It's messy down there!
6. Pour the mixture of vinegar, baking soda and salt into the drain.
7. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then pour 1 gallon of boiling water into the drain.

How much money will this cost you? About ten bucks ($10).

Now you can be your own Joe the Plumber when it comes to unclogging your bathtub drain.

» left by Patricia Barbee

from Coastal Empire, GA USA 3 years 16 days ago.

If there is a "next time", try this.....

 

If you can access the outside drainline, do so. The more modern ones have PVC easy open caps and can be opened with a quick twist with a Channel Lock tool. It adjusts to the generous square top for that very purpose.

 

Open it. Plunge the tub [it is easier with a helper] and watch the water flow. There is no longer an air lock. Replace the the cap. THEN add your soda/vinegar mixtures.

 

There are as many "recipes" for this as there are bread recipes. Use what works best with one's plumbing system. The age of the building and old building plans should tell if plumbing system is cast iron; galvanized pipe; copper; outlawed or legal PVC. Believe it or not there are some buildings still in use that have clay pipes.  Now that is old.

 

Dumping old baking soda removed from one's refrigerator and freezer down the kitchen sink; lavatory/bathroom basins and tubs on a regular basis will keep the drains open.

No work is easier than working up a sweat!!!  My path is "no work".

 

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» left by Mogama 3 years 16 days ago.
118 fans. Follow Mogama on twitter!

Yes, Patricia, I am aware of several other remedies for the clogged drain, but this has become my favorite. Thanks very much for your valuable input. ~mogama~

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