Drain Cleaning Solution

From my friend and fellow eco-warrior, Viki-- an eco-friendly drain cleaner and her review of it:

Drain Cleaner

1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup baking soda
2 cups boiling water

Shake 1/2 cup baking soda into drain (make sure it actually goes down the drain, and doesn't just sit at the top). Follow with 1 cup vinegar. Wait 15 minutes. Pour 2 cups boiling water. Repeat as needed.

This worked very well in the kitchen & bathroom, and failed miserably in the extremely clogged bathtub drain. However, the bathtub has been an ongoing problem. We tried a professional strength chemical drain cleaner a couple months ago. It worked slightly better for slightly longer. For heavy clogs, a more physical approach (like snaking or plunging) is probably needed before pouring anything down the drain...

Overall, I would rate this as a very effective way to prevent plumbing problems, and plan on doing this monthly (or as needed) in other drains. The slight advantage of chemical drain cleaners definitely doesn't outweigh their cost & enviro impact.

Thanks to the Vikster!