Drain Cleaner
Combine the following and then slowly pour down the drain you wish to clean:
1/2 cup salt
1/8 cup cream of tartar
1/2 cup baking soda
Follow with:
6 cups boiling water
Leave Overnight. In the morning, Flush with warm water for several minutes.
Melissa “Liss” Burnell is the founder of Budget101.com, a trusted frugal living resource online since 2001. With over 25 years of hands-on experience in meal planning, debt reduction, and DIY homemaking, she’s helped millions of families live well for less.
A mother of two, Liss first made waves by cutting her family’s grocery bill to under $200/month—then teaching others how to do the same. She is the author of two bestselling ebooks on feeding a family on a tight budget, available on Amazon.
📚 Learn more on the About page, or connect with Liss on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook.
View More Household Tips-n-Tricks
this is a good recipe, but i would caution that the 6 cups boiling water is not a good idea if the drain pipes are plastic, as you could melt them or cause a sag or leak.
To avoid using chemicals, pour 2-4 quarts of hot water down the drain weekly to keep it open. Do not use boiling water if you have plastic drain pipes, as they may melt or warp.
My favorite is to pour 1 cup warm vinegar into drain and cover. Vinegar is a mild acid, and can be left in the drain indefinitely without damaging drain pipes, so leave it as long as you like before using the drain.
If you like the smell of vinegar, the odor will also freshen the smell of the drain.
for further clarification, if you have pvc pipes (as opposed to plastic, typically found in mass-manufactured homes)- you can use boiling water without issue.