Simple Homemade Drain Cleaners That Get Results

Updated June 2, 2020
homemade drain cleaner pour shower drain

Nothing is more annoying than getting in the shower and being ankle-deep in water or having your kitchen sink not drain. Unclog any drain in your home using homemade drain cleaner recipes made from baking soda, borax, vinegar, and salt. Get homemade alternatives to commercial and enzyme drain cleaners.

Vinegar & Baking Soda Drain Cleaning Recipe Duo

homemade drain cleaner baking soda and vinegar

There isn't much in your house that you can't clean with vinegar and baking soda. Drains are one of them. For this recipe, you'll need:

  • 1 cup of heated white vinegar
  • ½ cup of baking soda
  • 4 tablespoons of salt
  • Mixing bowl

What to Do

  1. Bring 1 cup of white vinegar to a boil.
  2. Mix the baking soda and salt.
  3. Pour the mixture down the drain.
  4. Follow with the boiling vinegar.
  5. Allow the mixture to foam.
  6. After 15 minutes, flush with warm running water for 1 minute.
  7. Repeat as needed.

Dawn Homemade Drain Cleaner

If you've got a grease clog in your drain, look no further than the grease-fighting power of Dawn dish detergent. To make this recipe, grab:

  • 3 tablespoons of Dawn dish detergent
  • 4 cups of boiling water

Instructions for Cleaning

  1. Bring the water to a boil.
  2. Add the Dawn.
  3. Allow the mixture to boil for another minute.
  4. Pour the concoction down the drain.
  5. Allow it to sit for 15-30 minutes.
  6. Flush for 1 minute with hot water.
  7. Repeat if needed.

DIY Drain Cleaner Without Baking Soda

When it comes to clearing your drain of hair and grease, sometimes baking soda just isn't enough. In these instances, you could reach for an enzyme drain cleaner. Or you can make an equivalent at home using these ingredients.

  • 4 tablespoons of borax
  • 4 tablespoons of salt
  • ½ cup of vinegar
  • Pot of boiling water

Cleaning the Drain

  1. Mix the borax, salt, and vinegar together.
  2. Pour it down the drain.
  3. Follow with the pot of hot water.
  4. Let it sit for an hour.
  5. Give the drain a flush with fresh warm water for a minute.

Homemade Drain Cleaner With Salt

Looking for another sure-fire drain cleaner that is the perfect home remedy for a clogged bathroom drain. Reach for these ingredients.

  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar
  • ¾ cup of salt
  • 2 cups of baking soda
  • Container

Instructions

  1. Place 2 cups of water in a pan and bring it to a boil.
  2. In a container, mix the baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
  3. Pour the boiling water down the drain.
  4. Follow with your homemade mixture.
  5. Allow it to sit for about an hour.
  6. Boil two more cups of water and pour them down the drain.
  7. Follow with cool water for a minute or two.

Borax Drain Recipe Cleaner

Looking for a simple borax drain cleaner? Look no further than this grease and gunk killing master. For this recipe, you'll grab:

  • 1 cup of borax
  • Pot of boiling water

Directions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil.
  2. Pour 1 cup of Borax down the drain.
  3. Follow with the boiling water.
  4. Allow the ingredients to sit for an hour.
  5. Finish by running clean, cool water down the drain for a couple of minutes before using the sink again.

Drain Cleaner for Smelly Drains

homemade drain cleaner sprinkle baking soda in sink

Kitchen drains are famous for getting smelly. All that grease and food gunk get a little funky. Give a smelly drain a lemony zest with this recipe.

  • ½ cup of baking soda
  • ½ cup of lemon juice
  • Drain stopper
  • Boiling water

Drain Cleaning Directions

  1. Sprinkle the baking soda into the drain.
  2. Pour in the lemon juice.
  3. Use the stopper to plug the drain.
  4. Allow the concoction to sit for 30 minutes to an hour.
  5. Unstop the drain.
  6. Pour in the boiling water.
  7. Flush for 2 minutes with running, warm water.

Getting Your Drain Clean

Making your own drain cleaner is not only a cost-effective solution to putrid sink odors; it also helps preserve the environment from harmful chemicals used in some commercial cleaners. To save even more time and money, consider mixing large batches of the do-it-yourself drain cleaners. You can store the leftover cleaner in a clearly marked container, so it will be readily available when your sink needs a good cleaning.

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Simple Homemade Drain Cleaners That Get Results