Common Pantry Ingredients That Can Bust Through Clogged Drains

A household drain can get clogged at any time, and when it happens, it can be a lot of trouble to deal with. While you might consider using a store-bought drain cleaner such as Drano to unclog your drain in a pinch, there are other options. Many plumbers actually warn you to avoid Drano in your pipes anyway, as it's corrosive and can cause damage. Some simple ingredients in your pantry can work as "DIY Drano" and allow you to unclog a toilet or sink in record time.

There are many clever uses for baking soda in the bathroom and kitchen, and it's also a great ingredient to use when unclogging a drain. However, you'll need to combine it with both salt and cream of tartar to get results. Baking soda and cream of tartar serve different purposes when unclogging drains. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) releases carbon dioxide to help break up any clogs that are present. Salt's abrasiveness can help remove grease buildup and other residue that causes clogs. Cream of tartar (potassium tartrate), on the other hand, is an acidic powder that helps remove residue in your pipes and works well for cleaning metal. When used with baking soda and salt, it can do a great job of dissolving debris and can even break down hair.

To use this hack, plumbers suggest you start by mixing half a cup of baking soda with half a cup of salt and two tablespoons of cream of tartar. Combine these ingredients and mix them inside a jar. Once you're done, pour half of the mixture you've made into the drain. After adding this DIY drain cleaner, plumbers say you should pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. Then, let it sit for about an hour.

Once the clog has been fixed, you'll likely want to run your tap water for a few minutes to help wash away any debris that remains. This trick is likely to work well the first time, but if it doesn't fix your clog, you may want to try the hack again. Alternatively, you could try using some other all-natural ingredients to clear the clogged drain. Of course, if you're unable to fix the issue on your own, you may have significant plumbing problems and should consider hiring a professional to take a closer look.