Simple Science at work...

... on my kitchen sink!

I had a clogged sink. It wasn't the garbage disposal thing. It was working. Nothing was stuck except that water would just bubble and gurgle and s.l.o.w.l.y, ever so s.l.o.w.l.y drip drip down. I told DH and he said that something was blocking the elbow pipe. It would have to be removed and manually take out whatever was blocking it. Ugh! It was going to be a dirty job for sure!

Then I stumbled upon this article on how to unclog drains using baking soda.

1. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda & 1/2 cup salt.
2. Pour the mixture down the drain.
3. Pour 1 liter of boiling water.
4. Leave it for 10 minutes.
5. After 10 minutes, pass cold water to clean out the gunk.

Well, it worked. Not as quickly as it sounded. My steps were more like this...

1. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda & 1/2 cup salt.
2. Pour the mixture down the drain.
3. Pour 1 liter of boiling water. Turn on the garbage disposal and watch it gurgle and bubble.
4. Leave it for 10 minutes.
5. Pour another liter of boiling water.
6. Turn on the garbage disposal and watch the water gurgle and bubble up and gurgle and bubble up some more and more and then with a woosh...voila! Drain is unclogged!!!
7. Pour cold water and listen to it flowing down easily - ahhh...sweet music to my ears!

Yes, simple science works!!! The chemical reaction of the salt and baking soda and boiling water melted through whatever was blocking that drain. Woohoo!

3 comments:

Donna | Tuesday, January 05, 2010 11:19:00 PM

thanks for the tip! i always buy something they have here in japan which is gel-like and you just pour it down the drain and leave it for 30 minutes. i'll try your version next time.

Joy | Wednesday, January 06, 2010 1:17:00 PM

That's what we usually used to - Drano. But this is a lot healthier, di ba? Why introduce chemicals into your home when the same job can be done using organic products?

Gabi | Wednesday, January 06, 2010 2:52:00 PM

It sounds easy to do! Thanks for the tip, Joy. I have to try it. Our drain in the bathroom is causing some troubles.