Unclog Your Drains With This All-Natural DIY Drano

Is there anything nastier than a clogged sink? You know what I’m talking about—you finish washing your hands or brushing your teeth and watch that dirty water slowly drain from your sink, leaving a scummy ring of soap or toothpaste around the formerly clean bowl. Actually, there is something even more disgusting, and it’s taking a shower in a tub with a slow drain, trying to feel clean while you have tepid, used water swirling around your ankles.

If just the thought makes you want to run out and buy Drano to unclog every drain in your house, here’s an idea. Instead of buying a $4 bottle of Drano that’s packed with harmful chemicals, try this DIY Drano, courtesy of BuzzFeed.

Here’s what you need:

• Baking soda
• Salt
• White vinegar
• Boiling water

And the instructions are as follows:

1. Remove the drain cap.
2. In a separate bowl, mix equal parts baking soda and salt. Usually 1/2 cup of each will do the trick.
3. Pour the mixture down the drain. Make sure the mixture goes down all the way; some have used a funnel or a re-purposed Mason jar to push the mixture down.
4. Take warm vinegar and pour that down the drain, letting it sit for a few minutes.
5. While it sits, boil a pot of water.
6. After a few minutes, pour the boiling water down the drain until the drain clears.
7. Store the mixture in a safe place for the next time your drain clogs.

Test your DIY Drano to see if it works. If not, you can try each ingredient listed above (baking soda, salt, vinegar, boiling water) separately. You can also use a wire hanger to grab the clumps of hair or other items that can clog your drain.

If this is a little too hands-on for you and you just want to use store-bought drain cleaner without the chemicals, try Earthworm drain cleaner. It smells good, it’s all-natural, it’s good for all drains (bathtub, toilet, and sink) and it costs around $5.