Smelly drains are a common occurrence both in, and around, homes and businesses. Dirt, hair, debris and other matter often gets caught in drains, and over time can result in a terrible odour being released.

Store bought drain cleaners are generally toxic

The majority of drain cleaning compounds on the market are toxic, and not environmentally friendly. So it is essential to be aware that there are natural drain cleaners available, which not only offer great results for cleaning your drains and neutralising odours, but also don’t harm the environment.

Natural drain cleaner

To clean your drains naturally, you initially begin by pouring a kettle or pot of boiling water down the offending drain. The next step involves measuring half a cup of baking soda, which you add to the drain in question. You need to let the baking soda sit for a couple of minutes to effectively break down whatever is causing your drains to smell. Once you’ve given the baking soda time to ensure the drain build-up disintegrates, you then add a mixture of one cup of vinegar and one cup of boiling water to the soda compound. If you have a drain plug, cover the drain so that the chemical reaction stays below the surface, and you don’t have to experience any odour that escapes during this process.

Flushing process

It is crucial that you allow the natural drain cleaner time to sit, so that you dissolve any build-up and bacteria in your drain. While the combination of baking soda and hot water works to break down any solid matter, it is the addition of vinegar that results in an explosive reaction to dislodge the blockage. Once the natural drain cleaner has broken down the drain blockage, it is time to flush the drain one last time with a pot or kettle of boiling water.

While natural drain cleaner is an effective alternative to shop-bought drain cleaning products for minor drain clearing concerns, if tree roots or large debris are blocking your drains, you will need to contact a Brisbane plumbing business for assistance, such as our experienced team at Fixzit.