How to Unclog a Drain With Baking Soda

Baking soda and vinegar can break down mineral deposits that build up in drains and cause blockages.

Madeline Buiano is an editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home.

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The drains in your home are a workhorse, but over time, they accumulate with food waste, oil, coffee grounds, shampoo, hair, and other debris that can result in a blockage. If your sink or shower drains have a minor clog, two products will keep you from calling the plumber: baking soda and vinegar. These common household products can easily break down mineral deposits that build up in drains and cause clogs. Here, we explain how to use baking soda and vinegar to clean and unclog a drain and prevent future issues.

How often you unclog a sink or shower drain comes down to how often it backs up—but you can take preventative measures every week to reduce blockages. "If you start to notice slow drainage or clogs, this means that it's time for cleaning," says Val Oliveira, CEO of Val's Cleaning Services. "Some drains, like those in busy kitchens, may need more frequent cleaning due to the substances that go down."

Before tackling this cleaning task, have these materials on hand.

Cleaning a drain with baking soda and vinegar is a highly effective way to treat minor clogs. "The combination of vinegar and baking soda triggers a chemical reaction that helps break down the clog," says Oliveira. For severe or persistent clogs, you should contact a professional plumber for assistance.

There are many ways for a drain to become clogged. "Your kitchen sink works hard holding dirty dishes day after day, causing food residue to build up in the sink and the drain naturally over time,” says Bree Lemmen, kitchen brand manager for Whirlpool. "A sink gets clogged once this buildup causes a blockage, which is why it's best to include the sink in your regular cleaning routine.”

Bathroom sink and shower drains also frequently become clogged due to hair buildup or product and soap residue, says Oliveira. "Hair is common for drain blockages. As hair descends the drain, it can form clumps, restricting the flow of water.”

Prevention is key when it comes to keeping your drain clog-free. Beyond regular cleaning, there are some other measures you can take to reduce blockages.

Pour hot water down your drains once a week. "Hot water helps dissolve and wash away grease and other debris that can accumulate in the pipes," says Oliveira.

Placing drain strainers or stoppers in your sink or shower will help catch food particles, hair, and other debris that can clog drains. "Empty the collected debris from the strainers regularly to prevent buildup," says Oliveira.

Certain things, like grease and oil, can solidify inside your pipes and cause clogs. Dispose of those ingredients (as well as food scraps) in the trash rather than pouring them down your sink. "This helps prevent food particles from accumulating and causing drain blockages," says Oliveira.

If you have a garbage disposal, let a steady flow of cold water run down your sink drain while you use it. "Cold water solidifies fats and oils, allowing the disposal to chop them into smaller pieces and flush them away more effectively," says Oliveira.

Baking soda is a great way to flush your drain, but if you'd rather try a different route, there are plenty of other all-natural methods that will unclog the plumbing.

Lemon juice is a great antioxidant—it's a boon for your drains too. Since it's so acidic, the juice can remove grease and other obstructions from drains. Pour it down, then let it sit for about an hour, and follow it with hot water. It can be combined with baking soda too.

What can't salt do? If you don't have baking soda on hand, this popular seasoning can potentially get the job done. Since it has a rough texture, pouring it down a drain can help remove built-up debris. Flush it afterward with hot water to make sure everything is cleaned out.

Another highly acidic ingredient, cream of tartar is a great solution if your drain is too clogged for water to easily run through. It can be combined with baking soda too.