Why should You Pour Salt in A Sink

Clogged drains are a nuisance, and sitting around waiting for water to swirl down the drain is overrated. You may have heard of the practice of pouring salt down the sink. Interestingly, salt can actually work wonders on the hard-to-remove buildup in the pipes under the sink.

Why Do Drains Get Clogged?

The drain in your sink can become clogged for a variety of reasons. While you may think that the grease or food particles you dump down the drain won’t cause any problems, the buildup of these materials can happen over time.

These particles can cling to the pipes underneath the sink and eventually escalate into a fully clogged drain.

Fortunately, there are homemade drain cleaners that you can try that will help dissolve the clogged sink buildup.

Can Salt And Boiling Water Unclog A Drain?

A mixture of salt and boiling water can actually unclog a drain.

What You Need:

• Epsom salt
• Boiling water

To help unclog a clog in the pipe under the sink, pour a few cups of boiling water down the drain. After the water, pour in about two tablespoons of laxative salt and let the mixture sit for a minute.

Then, pour a few more cups of boiling water down the drain. This combination should help break up the substance that is causing the clog.

Note that the heat of the boiling water may cause the joints in the PVC pipes to loosen, so this is not the best option for PVC pipes.

If you have a porcelain sink, boiling water may also cause the sink to crack, so make sure you don’t pour hot water directly into the sink. Instead, use a funnel or kettle to pour the water directly down the drain.

Other Ways To Eliminate Clogs

If boiling water and salt don’t do the trick, there are a few other methods to try.

1. Baking Soda And Salt

Baking soda and salt are a wonderful combination for clearing a sewer clog.

What you need:

• Baking soda
• Salt
• Boiling water

Mix one part baking soda and salt with four parts boiling water. An example is half a cup of baking soda with half a cup of salt and two cups of hot water. Pour the solution down the drain and let it rest overnight. The next morning, pour hot water down the drain to flush out any residue of the mixture.

2. Baking Soda And Vinegar

Another combination that can be used instead of the hot saltwater mixture is baking soda and vinegar.

What you’ll need:

• Half a box of baking soda
• Half a cup of vinegar
• Boiling water
• Metal plug for the drain

To clear a clog in the drain with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, first pour half a box of baking soda down the drain. Add half a cup of vinegar after the baking soda and then place the metal stopper down the drain.

The combination of the two is a recreation of the volcano experiment the fifth graders did at the science fair. It will create bubbles and foam in the drain, helping to unblock stubborn clogs in the pipes.

Let the mixture work its magic in the sink for 30 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain to flush out any remnants of the mixture in the drain.

Drain Snakes

If you have PVC pipes under your sink, then the boiling water method is not a good option for you. A drain snake can help clear difficult clogs in the sink drain. However, when using a snake, make sure you don’t get too enthusiastic about getting the snake stuck in the drain.

Using a drain snake is a little more complicated than utilizing a mixture of baking soda, salt or vinegar. If you are unsure if you can do this yourself, seek professional help.

 

Why Should I Pour Salt Down The Drain Before I Go To Bed?

Pouring a salt mixture down the drain before bedtime, such as a combination of baking soda and salt, will help clear a clog in the drain. Allowing the baking soda and salt mixture to sit overnight will give it more time to do what it needs to do. This combination will work throughout the night to break down the emulsified fats and oils so that boiling water can flush them out the next morning.

 

Which Method Should You Use To Unclog Your Sink?

There is a range of homemade drain cleaners that can be used to solve clogged sink problems. If you have PVC pipes under your sink, then boiling water is not the best choice for removing the buildup in the sink. If this is the case, a drain snake may be a better option.

Overall, using salt as an ingredient in your homemade drain cleaner is a great option for dissipating those stubborn clogs that hang in your sink. When you study your eyelids at night, salt can work miracles and leave you with a clog-free drain in the morning.

However, if you have a stubborn clog that you can’t seem to get rid of, seek the help of a professional plumber who can remove the clog without causing any additional damage.