Clogged drains are very annoying and frustrating. Calling a plumber is expensive and inconvenient. But if you are thinking of using a chemical drain cleaner as an alternative, keep in mind that most of them contain hazardous chemicals that are harmful to your health and also for pipes.

So if your drain is blocked, you can do it yourself instead of going to a professional or getting a chemical drain cleaning. Because chemical sewage cleaners are often made up of quick-fix solutions, which in practice can be quite harmful.

Before considering cleaning your drain, you need to learn a few things about chemical drain barriers and cleaners. Understanding the causes and pitfalls of clogging, and why chemical cleaners are not recommended can help eliminate and prevent clogging. Then you can decide if it’s right for you to do it yourself or require a plumber to do it for you.

Risk of Blockage

Obstacles aren’t ideal, but especially when the blockage is severe enough to require expensive repairs. In addition to an unpleasant odor, clogging of the drain can have very serious consequences.

The longer the barrier stays, the higher the risk of creating ideal conditions for bacteria to grow, even if a small barrier. If left for a long period, the dirty water continues to pollute clean water, it can quickly cause serious health problems.

The risk of leaks is another thing to remember while using DIY solutions for drain cleaning because all the stagnant water has to go somewhere.

Water leaks from the pipe itself and if too much pressure is used it can crack and cause flooding. As a result, you may face more damage and repair costs. 

Risks of Using a Chemical Cleaner

As we have discussed there are many ways to remove barriers depending on your personal preferences or challenges. This includes using a DIY sewer, buying plumbing equipment, or calling a plumber. But using a chemical for removing it is can be risky and cause you bigger damage.

The blockage can be removed immediately, but it can easily damage the pipe on the way down. Old pipes are especially difficult to combine with powerful chemical cleaners that can corrode the pipes as easily as clogging.

Another reason to not use a chemical is, if it comes into contact with the skin, it may pose a health hazard, including eye or skin irritation. In most cases, the barrier is not serious enough to guarantee such a powerful solution. However, if the barrier is too difficult, it is best to leave it to the experts. Also according to the US National Library of medicine, some chemical cleaners are very dangerous to health.

According to the aforementioned facts, you can tell that the best method is to use the homemade cleaner to unclog the drains. Try the following few DIY homemade drain cleaner recipes that are safe yet effective for use.

Best DIY Drain Cleaning Method

Most household recipes will help you get rid of minor obstacles that are made of natural ingredients, easily found at home. The main advantage of this recipe is that you only need three ingredients, readily available at your home. Mixing them can help get rid of clogged drains. But only for simple clogged drains if the clog is severe try other methods instead of this generic one.

Ingredients to use:

• Boling Water: about a small pot (multiply by 2 for the final rinse).
• Vinegar: ½  cup
• Baking soda: ½ cup

Keep in mind that baking soda and vinegar are high in foam and bubbles a lot so don’t get worried. Carbon dioxide is formed as a result of the chemical reaction between them, which helps remove most of the barriers.

Instructions

• Remove any excess water from your sink or bathtub.
• Pour boiling water into the drain.
• Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain and make sure it goes straight down.
• Then add ½ cup of vinegar, which reacts with the baking soda and begins to foam.
• Cover the mixture with a lid and let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes. If the blockage is particularly severe, leave the mixture for as long as necessary.
• Remove the lid and pour more boiling water through the drain to remove any further dirt and trash from the drain.

With this simple DIY recipe you can get rid of any clogs. But if your blockage is severe instead of using this you can use other homemade drain cleaners.

There are some more homemade drain cleaners you can use according to the type of clogs. Let’s have a look at them.

Homemade Drain Cleaner Recipes for Clog Type

If you know the sort of clog you are facing, you can use a more targeted homemade cleaner according to the blockage type and need. So we have gathered a small list of the best homemade drain cleaner for you that you can try yourself.

Homemade Drain Cleaner for Dirty and Smelly Drains

So, if you are facing a smelly drain the unclogging it would not be enough. You would still have a pungent smell to tackle and for that, a lemon mixture would be your best bet. In this mixture, citric acid reacts with the bicarbonate of baking soda.

Ingredients to use:

• Baking Soda: ½  cup
• Lemon Juice: ½  cup

Instructions:

Use half a cup of baking soda and lemon juice, let the mixture sit for an hour, then rinse the drain with boiling water. As a result, the unpleasant smell disappears, and the drain starts to smell like lemon!

Homemade Drain Cleaner for Hardened Fat or Grease

So the next type of blockage is clogging due to hardened fat or grease. If you pour grease into the drain, don’t worry, it can also be cleaned through boiling water.

Ingredients to use:

• Boiling Water: 2 to 3 Litres

Instructions:

When boiling water is poured into the drain, the fat becomes liquid, which helps to remove it from the pipe. Start with 2 liters of boiling water, but you may need more depending on the amount of fat.

Homemade Drain Cleaner for Growth of Bacteria

Cleaning the drain is not enough when your drain has bacteria in it, you need something that can kill those bacterias. Salt, borax, and vinegar will help you with this…

Borax is a cleanser that helps to get rid of mold and mildew. Let’s say you have a solution that has stuck for a while and you are worried about the rest of the bacteria. In this case, this combination is the answer.

Ingredients to use:

• Salt: ½  cup
• Borax: ½  cup
• Vinegar: ½  cup

Instructions:

Mix half a cup of salt and borax, drain it out, then add half a cup of vinegar. Then let everything sit for 30 minutes to several hours. Then pour boiling water from a small saucepan into the drain and wash the pipe.

Homemade Drain Cleaner for Greasy Clog

If you are facing a greasy clog problem this homemade cleaner is best for you. This method can be used for many purposes, but it is effective at blocking grease because it can heat the grease to a liquid state and escape completely from the tube.

Ingredients to use:

• Boiled Water: 2 to 3 Liters
• Liquid Dish Soap: 2 to 3 Spoons

Instructions:

Boil 2 liters of water and add a few tablespoons of liquid detergent. Slowly drip this mixture into the sink.

Homemade Drain Cleaner for Dirt and Trash Clog

Another type of clog we face a blockage due to dirt and trash stuck in the drain. For these types of clogs, this homemade drain cleaner is best.

Ingredients to use:

• Baking Soda: ½  cup
• Salt: ½  cup
• Tartar: 2 tablespoon

Instructions:

Pour 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup salt, and 2 tablespoons tartar into an airtight jar. Close the jar and shake well to combine all the ingredients. Pour half the contents of the jar into the drain and put the other half later. Pour the solution into boiling water. Leave the drain for an hour. Then drain the remaining solution with tap water.

Final Thoughts

Homemade cleaners are very effective, but it’s important to choose the one that entertains you based on the type of obstacle you face. If you use the wrong cleaner it may not be effective at all. Also, the most important thing to remember is that you need to take precautions when handling in drains because these simple home ingredients also contain some acidic stuff that gets reacted during the process.