Does vinegar unclog drains?

To some extent, pouring vinegar down the drain helps in unclogging it, especially when used alongside baking soda. The two together could create a fizzing reaction that helps dislodge minor blockages, but they might not be effective against more serious clogs.

Using baking soda and vinegar is one of the fastest methods for unblocking a drain. First, pour about half a cup of baking soda into the drain, then pour half a cup of vinegar. The mixture will sit in the drain and fizz for about 15 to 30 minutes. This method definitely works better for slight clogs than it does for severe ones, which may need to be tackled using a plumbing snake or another method.

No, vinegar is not usually as potent as Drano for unclogging drains. While vinegar is good for cleaning and deodorizing drains and might work on slight clogs when used with baking soda, it does not possess the powerful chemical action of commercial products like Drano that are formulated to break down tough clogs.

Your drain might not be getting unclogged by baking soda and vinegar because the clog is too severe or made of stuff that doesn't react with the baking soda and vinegar, like large solid objects, huge amounts of grease, or lots of hair. Even if the clog is not too severe, the fizzing and bubbling made by the reaction may not be enough to dislodge the clog. If the fizzing and bubbling can't do it, then you might want to try using something that can, like a plunger or a snake.

Generally, you should allow the vinegar to remain in a drain for approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.

A mixture of baking soda and vinegar can sometimes loosen a deep drain clog. To try this, first pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. Next, add about half a cup of baking soda. Allow the baking soda to sit for a few minutes and then add a mixture of one cup of vinegar and one cup of hot water. Cover the drain to keep the reaction below. After 15-20 minutes, flush again with boiling water. If this doesn't work, it may be time to try a snake or call a pro.

No, drains do not effectively dissolve hair in them. A drain has two basic parts: the pipe that carries water away and the trap that holds just enough water to keep sewer gases from coming up into the house. Hair clogs can develop in either part. And while vinegar is a good, safe cleaner to use in the kinds of places where you might find hair—like a bathroom sink or a shower—it does not have the power to dissolve hair. If it seems like your drain is getting hair-caked, reach for a snake or some kind of drain-cleaning magic instead.

In general, maintenance and minor clogs in drains are better served by vinegar. This is because vinegar is less corrosive and more environmentally friendly than bleach. While bleach can potentially damage pipes and harm the environment, vinegar, used in conjunction with baking soda, can naturally break down build-up without the use of harsh chemicals.

The reaction between vinegar and baking soda is a chemical acid-base reaction. Acetic acid (the true name of vinegar) reacts with sodium bicarbonate (the true name of baking soda) to produce carbonic acid, which is unstable and quickly decomposes into carbon dioxide and water. The formation of all this gas (actually, the appearance of approximately 500 million gas bubbles per second) causes bubbling and fizzing. Baking soda has other uses in cleaning as well.

Using baking soda and vinegar to clear a clogged drain is not an old wives' tale. The combination of these two kitchen staples creates a reaction that can help break down hair and other gunky substances that may be stuck in your drain or pipes. Just how effective is this method, and how does it work?