How to Clear a Clogged Drain with Vinegar

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References Approved

If you've noticed standing water in your tub or your kitchen sink draining slowly, you probably have a clogged drain. Fortunately, if caught early you can clear a clogged drain using common household items. Vinegar, baking soda, borax, and lots of hot water are simple, yet effective tools in clearing slow-draining sinks.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Drain Mixture

1
Drain any water from the sink or tub. If it's really slow-draining, this may take a while, but if you remove the water, your drain-clearing mixture will be able to unclog faster.
2
Gather household cleaning/kitchen items. You have several options for creating a non-commercial drain opener. Most involve vinegar and another substance that create a chemical reaction when combined. See if you have any of these drain-opening agents on hand:
- Vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar work) is the acidic base for creating the foaming reaction.
- Lemon juice is acidic like vinegar, but smells refreshing. This makes lemon juice a good option for clearing out clogged kitchen sinks.
- Baking soda is frequently used as a multipurpose cleanser.
- Salt will help eat away at the clog.
- Borax is frequently used as a multipurpose cleanser.
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3
Pour vinegar and another drain-opening agent down the drain. No mixing is needed before pouring down the drain. The mixture will foam up on its own as the chemical reaction occurs.^{[1]
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- For a vinegar and baking soda combination: use 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar.
- For a lemon juice and baking soda combination: use 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of lemon juice.
- For a salt, borax, and vinegar combination: use 1/4 cup of borax, 1/4 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of vinegar.
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Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert

You can also pour vinegar down the drain on its own. Pour about 1 cup of vinegar down your drain and let it sit for 30-40 minutes. Vinegar has a very high acid content (which is why it's great on soap scum) and it will break down a good bit of the organic content that is stuck.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Agitating the Clog

1
Cover and let the mixture sit. Either use the tub stopper to close the drain or cover it with a steaming hot cloth. Keep the drain closed for 30 minutes. During this time, the foam will be working on wearing down the clog.^{[2]
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2
Plunge the drain. Use a small, sink size plunger to agitate the clogged-up material. Create a seal and push up and down on the rubber base of the plunger.
- Plunging works best if you fill the tub or sink with water. The added pressure from the water will help force open the clog.
3
Use a hanger to pull out the clog. If the drain is clogged with hair, take a metal hanger and twist it till you have a long piece of metal with a small hook at one end. Carefully feed the hook end of the wire down the drain. Twist the wire around and try to snag the clog. Gently pull the wire back out once you've caught the clog.
- Take care not to scratch your sink or tub with the exposed metal. Also, use caution when untwisting the hanger. The metal may be sharp.
4
Use a drain snake. A drain snake looks like a long metal rope. You'll need to carefully feed the snake into the drain. When the snake gets stuck, you'll want to turn the cable. This will make it catch onto the clog. When you slowly pull the snake back out, the clog should clear. Flush with water and repeat.^{[3]
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- Wear work gloves since the metal snake can be sharp. You should also have an old towel and bucket handy to set the clogged material.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Flushing the Drain

1
Flush the drain with hot water. Boil at least 6 cups of hot water or several kettles full of water. Uncover the drain and slowly pour the hot water down.
- If you have plastic piping, just use very hot water. Avoid pouring boiling water in the drain.^{[4]
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2
Repeat. If the water is still draining slowly, repeat the process again until the drain becomes clear.
- If the clog still stubbornly resists draining, you may have a hairball stuck. This may require manually removing the clog. Consider calling a plumber, especially if the drain completely stops up.
3
Use gravity and pressure to flush the drain. This works best on a clogged tub, since you can fill the tub with gallons of water. Fill the tub with hot water. Then, open the drain and let the pressure of all that water help break up the clog.^{[5]
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Community Q&A

Question

What should I do if the clog is longer than the size of the hanger I am using?

Community Answer

You might need to get a zip-type clog remover, sometimes called a drain snake. The zip-type snake can be just a few dollars from your local hardware store. The metal ones up to about 25 feet can range from $10 to $30 USD or so. If a 25-foot snake won't reach the clog, then you probably need to hire a professional.
Question

Can I use hot vinegar if I used a commercial drain cleaner several days prior?

Community Answer

Yes, you can, but the vinegar need not be to hot. Use it with baking soda for the best results.
Question

Do I mix the baking soda and vinegar in a cup before pouring it into the sink?

Community Answer

No. Pour soda down the drain, then follow with the vinegar. Flush the mixture down the drain with hot water. If you mix the basics together in a cup, it will start to foam and lose its effectiveness.

Warnings

Avoid using these methods if you've already poured commercial drain cleaning down the drain. The vinegar and chemicals in the commercial cleaner can create dangerous fumes.

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Concentrated vinegar (acetic acid) and caustic soda are sometimes used for clearing drains, but both are irritants.They can cause irritation to skin, eyes, nose and throat. Avoid direct contact with skin, eyes and clothing.

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