When used with hot water, these ingredients can break up many clogs which could be causing your blocked drain and prevent the problem from getting worse.

Step 1: Preparing the mixture

You’ll need to start by draining out any excess water from your sinks or tubs as best you can. This will prevent your drain cleaning solution from becoming too diluted and will help it get to where it needs to go to clear the clog.
When gathering your ingredients, you can substitute vinegar for another acidic substance such as lemon juice. The secondary substance or substances then react with the acidic base inside the drain, which will hopefully clear the blockage.
Lemon juice may be a better option for cleaning kitchen sinks as it smells refreshing, though vinegar is often easier to measure and is available in larger quantities. Baking soda is an ideal secondary ingredient, as it will react with the acid and create a foaming reaction which can dislodge or dissolve many minor blockages. Borax and salt can be added to the mixture for added effect.
A good recipe for your own homemade drain cleaner might look like this:

• One cup of lemon juice and an equal amount of baking soda
• Half a cup of white vinegar and an equal amount of baking soda
• Half a cup of borax, half a cup of salt, and a cup of white vinegar.

Step 2: The method

Whichever ingredients you decide to use, the method remains pretty much the same. Remember to allow as much water to drain away as you can, then pour in your acidic base followed by the secondary ingredient or ingredients.
The mixture of the natural drain cleaners should begin to react instantly once you’ve poured the ingredients into the drain. You’ll need to let it sit for a while to allow the reaction to break up whatever is blocking the drain. Try covering the drain opening with a plug or cloth wet with hot water.
Wait at least thirty minutes, then pour some water down the drain and use a plunger to apply pressure to the blockage. This may break the blockage up completely, or at least bring it close to the drain opening. Use a bent coat hanger or some wire to remove the blockage from the drain by slowly pushing it into the opening and twisting it around and pulling it out when you feel it catch something.
If you have access to a plumbing snake, this is a very effective way to remove or break up whatever is causing the blockage. Plumbing snakes have a head which can be rotated via a handle to break up any material in the drain.
Use gloves whenever you are removing blockages, especially where drain cleaning mixtures are used. Have a bucket of hot water ready and a towel to collect any material which you remove from the drain.

Step 3: Flushing the drain

Use about five cups of boiling water to flush the drain, or if your piping is plastic use a few buckets of hot water. If the drain is still not working properly by this point, you might need to contact your plumber for professional assistance. Our 24 hour emergency plumber or general plumbing service can assist you in diagnosing and solving any plumbing issues, this includes stubborn blockages which might require professional equipment to remove.