Unclogging Drains
Surprisingly enough, it is possible to unclog your drain with natural cleaning supplies. I always thought that if the drain was clogged your only options were Drano, a drain snake, or a plumber. Turns out, natural cleaning solutions work just as well as products like Drano. Of course, if your drain has a really nasty clog, this probably won’t work. But for standard drain clogs, it’s definitely worth giving natural cleaning solutions a shot. If you want some more information about using natural cleaning methods, you can read through our natural cleaning products blog post for a more in-depth look at natural cleaning solutions.
There isn’t too much that goes into unclogging the drain, so this will be a really quick step by step guide. The supplies you’ll need:
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
Step 1:
Whenever you’re cleaning the bathroom with any product, it’s best practice to open windows or turn on the fan so you have some sort of ventilation. The last thing you want when you’re unclogging a drain is a headache.
Step 2:
Next, you’re going to want to boil a pot of water. You’re going to pour this down the drain as a kind of preliminary rinsing.
Step 3:
Measure out about a half cup of baking soda. This doesn’t need to be super precise. Pour your baking soda into the drain and let sit for a few minutes.
Step 4:
Once you’ve let the baking soda sit, you’ll want to create a mixture of equal parts hot water and vinegar. The ideal amount is about 1 cup each but again, this doesn’t need to be exact. After you’ve poured that in, you might see some bubbling around the drain. That just means it’s working!
Step 5:
For the final step, just flush with another pot of boiling water! This should clear out any remaining baking soda and gunk that might still be in your drain.
Most likely, this won’t be a permanent solution, but it should clear up your drain enough to be able to shower without standing in water. This can be repeated as many times as you like because vinegar and baking soda won’t damage your pipes. When using chemical solutions you have to be careful that they don’t corrode the pipes. Another great reason why natural cleaning solutions are worth trying out!
Sinks and Counters
Cleaning sinks and counters are probably the easiest chores when it comes to cleaning the bathroom. With that being said, it’s still important to do a good job because your sink and counter space are often the most prominent parts of the bathroom. Sure, you could use any old all-purpose cleaner from your favorite big box store. Or, you could make your own all-purpose cleaner at home for much cheaper. It’s easy and much more environmentally friendly option.
Supplies:
- Baking Soda
- Warm water
- Spray Bottle
- Vinegar
Step 1:
I recommend rinsing out your sink with warm water and giving the counters a quick wipe down with a wet rag.
Step 2:
Mix warm water and vinegar into a spray bottle and shake until mixed. Equal parts vinegar and warm water should do the trick.
Step 3:
Once you have your cleaning solution mixed in the spray bottle, sprinkle baking soda on the counter and inside the sink, let it sit for a few minutes.
Step 4:
Spray the sink and countertops with your water and vinegar mixture and start scrubbing! You should see a small reaction between the vinegar and baking soda, that’s how you know its working.
Step 5:
Now you just have to wipe down the counter and sink with a wet rag and then dry. Any toothpaste stains, hard water marks, and any other general bathroom scum should be totally gone!
Using baking soda and vinegar is a tried and true method that is environmentally friendly and contains less dangerous chemicals than many other cleaning supplies. Although it sounds a little funky at first, using natural cleaning supplies is something that’s definitely worth trying out. We are all about supporting environmentally friendly options at Tradewinds Imports!
