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Question: Chemistry fans - what's the best way to gently clear a shower drain ?

(Posted by: cocovan on 2010-02-06 15:52:29)

We have old pipes in our house. I am concerned that drain cleaner will eventually destroy our pipes. I have been told to use two different methods to clear and maintain a shower drain. One- spoon in baking soda (into the drain) and then pour in some vinegar OR 2- just pour a bottle of bleach down the drain and let it sit over night. My question is this - given that baking soda is slightly basic, while vinegar is slightly acidic, wont the vinegar baking soda mix just neutralize each other ? Would bleach, with a pH of 13, be better?

Posted by: Tamara on 2010-02-06, 16:14:06

For myself, I believe that your first method would work best. Here is the method that I use with it: Step 1: Every few days run very hot tap water through the drain. This is one way to keep a drain free of odors. Treat any partially clogged drains promptly. Step 2: Put a tablespoon of baking soda into the kitchen drain about once a week, then slowly pour in 1/ 4 cup of vinegar or lemon juice and let it stand for 30 minutes. Next run run hot water through the drain to eliminate minor buildups and odors. Step 3: Pouring a strong salt water (brine) solution down the kitchen sink drain will eliminate odors and keep grease from building up. Step 4: Consider buying a drain cleaner solution if you have drains you can't clear out naturally. Be sure to read the label regarding the product suitability safety for your drain pipes.(Some chemical drain cleaners will harm plastic drain pipes). Make sure the solution is safe for plastic pipes or a garbage disposal. Be sure to follow the drain cleaner instructions. Step 5: Alternatively, consider a natural drain cleaner even for blockages. Remove any standing water then pour 1/ 2 c. baking soda into your drain. Follow this with 1/ 2 c. white vinegar. The baking soda is basic and the vinegar is acidic, so they will react with a churning action should break up the blockage without using any chemicals. Step 6: Call a licensed plumber for anything beyond regular drain cleaning and simple unclogging of drains. Good luck.

Posted by: Ethan on 2010-02-06, 15:57:26

Pour some bleach into a bowl, and raise that bowl to the shower head so its submersed in. Hold for about 2 minutes and then turn on the shower to clear the bleach, you will have the cleanest shower head ever!

Posted by: marcopolo342 on 2010-02-06, 15:57:39

If you are worried about destroying your drain, bleach is quite basic, a pH of 13 is very strong (which is why you need gloves to handle it) baking soda and vinegar is how you make lava for a volcano... the bicarbonate (HCO3-) reacts with the weak acid, to form H2CO3, which quickly decomposes to H2O and CO2. I am unsure how much that would help. If you want to try a weak base like bicardonate, I would use seltzer as it may help stimulate the reaction... however, if the pipes are really bad, you may need the strong stuff

Posted by: Necronlord312 on 2010-02-06, 15:59:00

The therory behind baking soda and vinegar is that the foaming reaction will put preassure on the clog and break it up. I dont think it works at all. Lye flakes (sodium hydroxide) with some water will work almost identically like draino except it wont be a gel so it wont stay in your drains for too long.

Posted by: Marc on 2010-02-06, 15:59:00

The principle with the baking soda and vinegar is that the gas released will dislodge clogs. One entirely non chemical way is use a wire hanger to pull out the hair on what ever that is clogging it. You might need to unscrew the cover to the drain first.

Posted by: John 21350 on 2010-02-06, 16:00:13

Spray a bottle of ladies hair remover down wait 1 hour ,,its head and pubic hair that block shower pipes,it will dissolve the hair ,then pour a kettle of boiling water to remove grease

Posted by: ilovelydiaf on 2010-02-06, 16:02:29

- hey. What is the PH of a coffee grain? .