Nothing is more frustrating than being halfway through cooking or doing the dishes only to discover the sink water is taking ages to drain away. However, you do not need a plumber or any fancy equipment, as a cheap kitchen item can clear a clogged sink drain in just a few minutes.
It is really common online for people to recommend using white vinegar and baking soda to clear a drain, but Bren Did, a cleaning expert, has shared that it actually does not work. Bren said: “Baking soda is a base while vinegar is an acid, their chemical reaction produces water with a tiny amount of salt in it, not a fat destroying drain cleaner. Plus vinegar and baking soda are not surfactants, so they do not help water carry oil and grease away the same way that detergents can.”
White vinegar and baking soda are popular natural cleaners, but sink drains are commonly blocked by food scraps, cooking oil, hair or soap which create a thick greasy layer in the pipes.
These kitchen ingredients are not strong enough to dislodge grease build up, and instead it is actually more effective to use washing up liquid and then hot boiling water from a kettle.
Washing up liquid contains surfactants which are designed to break down grease on dishes, but can also be used to loosen any build up in a sink to clear a blockage. It will help soften the grease to stop sticking to the pipes, while hot water will help melt it away to clear a clog quickly.
To test this, Bren set up an experiment with two bowls filled with grease. One bowl was treated with a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda, while the other was treated with washing-up liquid followed by boiling water.
Bren said: “After five minutes, the greasy clog in the bowl of hot water and [dish washing] detergent was completely melted and would have easily drained away. The greasy clog in the bowl of vinegar and baking soda was unchanged (although it was coated in vinegar and baking soda).”
Using washing up liquid is one of the quickest and easiest ways to clear a blocked sink without having to spend any money or use a harsher chemical cleaner.
How to use washing up liquid to clear a clogged sink drain
All you need to do is fill a kettle completely, or bring a large pot of water to boil.
Place a few tablespoons of washing up liquid down the drain. Any washing up liquid is fine to use, but if you are looking for a product then Sal Suds is a very effective degreaser.
Let the washing up liquid sit for a few minutes. Then once the hot water has boiled, slowly pour it down the plughole.
It may take one or two attempts depending on how big the clog is, but in five minutes your drain should be completely clean using only items in your kitchen.