Plumbers Don’t Want You To Know This Sink Trick!, by Latin Kitchen on YouTube. 1 min.
- Video length
- 1 min
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Remove any standing water with a cup, then pull out visible food scraps or hair from the drain opening with your fingers or a cloth.
Pour a good squeeze of dish soap down the drain. It helps break down the grease coating the pipe walls.
Add about half a cup of baking soda and a spoonful of salt straight into the drain.
Pour roughly one cup of white vinegar in after it. It will fizz and lift grime from the pipe.
Cover the drain with a cloth or plug and wait 10 to 15 minutes while the mixture works.
Boil a kettle of water, let it cool for a minute, then pour it slowly down the drain to flush everything through.
Run the hot tap for a minute to check the flow. Repeat the baking soda and vinegar once more if it still drains slowly.
Tips and common mistakes
Never pour boiling water straight into a cold pipe or a ceramic sink, as it can crack them.
Skip this method if you have already used a chemical drain cleaner, since mixing can be dangerous.
Use a plunger or drain snake if the water does not move at all, as that points to a solid blockage.
Run hot water for 30 seconds after each wash-up to stop grease building up again.
Questions
Will this work on a fully blocked sink?
It works best on slow drains and soft clogs of grease, soap and food. If water sits completely still, use a plunger or snake first.
Can I use it on bathroom drains too?
Yes, the same mix works on hair and soap scum in shower and basin drains. Pull out visible hair first for best results.
Is it safe for old pipes?
Baking soda, vinegar and dish soap are gentle on most pipes. Avoid very hot water on older plastic or lead pipes.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
