The Non-Toxic Way To Clean Your Shower Drain
Shower drains can easily become clogged, causing a smelly bathroom. It is not always necessary to call a plumber for help, as you can clean out the drain yourself if you follow our guide.
2 minute read
You might be thinking of getting a strong chemical from the supermarket but these can damage your drain pipes and aren’t good for the environment. You can actually find the required products in your kitchen. These ingredients don’t have a harsh smell, unlike the chemicals from the supermarket, and will work just as well. You might also find yourself with more money to spare.
What you’ll need
The two main magic ingredients are baking soda and vinegar. White vinegar is preferable over any other types as it is more acidic. Other than that you will need some boiling water and a long implement such as a bendable coat hanger or a stick.
Before you undertake any cleaning, be sure to wear rubber gloves and have a bag ready to collect the waste from the shower drain. It’s only soap and hair particles but no one wants that sitting on their floor. If you’re worried about smells, a face mask may come in handy.
Cleaning the drain
To start with, remove the top of the drain. Any loose hair or debris should be removed. You can use your long implement to dislodge any large clumps in order to speed up the cleaning process.
Once this is done, pour around 170g of baking soda into the drain. Add 120ml of vinegar, then 120ml of boiling water and quickly put the top of the drain back on to prevent the mixture from overflowing. Leave the mixture to fizz and work its magic for 10-20 minutes, then flush the pipework with some more boiling water.
If the drain has not completely cleared, repeat this process the following day. This second application should do the job.
How it works
Baking soda and vinegar make a powerful cleaning combo when they mix, fizzing to form an acid and carbon dioxide. This acid is strong enough to dissolve sludge and dirt inside the drain. When hot water is added to the mixture, it helps make it more fluid, allowing the dissolved dirt to flow down.
The second addition of boiling water clears the pipes of all chemicals and mess. It also gives you a good indication of whether or not the drain has been cleaned. If you feel as though the drain is not completely clean it could be because the pipe is deeply clogged. Repeating the cleaning process will remedy this.
