Baking soda is touted as an amazingly frugal cleaning product and it is. But be careful when you rinse it down the drain or the toilet. Baking soda, especially when mixed with hot water, solidifies. I once had a plumber come in after my husband and I could not unstop a kitchen sink which backed up and would not clear.
Allison from Arizona
Dear Allison
I've used Baking soda for years in my drain along with white vinegar,but I make sure it is all melted before rinsing.I let the faucet run for about 2 minutes after using the baking soda.a friend of mine did the same thing you did and she just poured the baking soda down the drain and ran a little water down but some had not melted.she had a plumber in to take the pipes apart.what a mess.I use a lot of vinegar until the soda stops bubbling. (07/02/2004)
By Louise
You can put baking soda down your drain and let it sit for about 30 minutes and then pour boiling vinegar down the drains. This works very well. I have been doing this for years. (07/15/2008)
By Becky
I've used baking soda several times to unclog drains. I pour it down the drain, then pour hot vinegar down. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then flush with hot water for 5 minutes. I've not had any problems. I do not put baking soda down the drains on a regular basis though. (09/23/2008)
By Sarah in Arizona
NEVER have I ever heard this before. I have used baking soda, vinegar and boiling water to break up grease/oil build up and just normal gunk out of my sinks and never has this happened to me. I lived in Arizona as well and this never happened. Was there ever any renovations done in the house or painting done where someone might have cleaned paint pans, grout buckets etc.? That could be what the mass was. Baking soda will actually "melt" with water and especially hot water, even if it is in clumps. (11/10/2008)
By Crockett
Wow, I have never heard about this problem. I have been using baking soda and vinegar to clean my drains out every week since I was a kid. My Mom used to use it in the laundromat she and Dad owned for years. I use 1 cup of baking soda (half a small box) and 2 cups of white vinegar (half a quart bottle) each week or so in the kitchen, bathroom sink, bathtub and the laundry tub, then run the water on all...
I guess I'll run the water a bit longer now... (12/30/2008)
By Kathy
I have used baking soda WITH vinegar for years. No problem.Thank goodness. (01/21/2009)
By roadgypsygranny
I have seen the hints about putting baking soda down the drain. The info I read, was to pour about 1 cp of baking soda in the drain and; pour vinegar on top of it. It was amazing. It foamed like mad and cleaned the drain really well.
This was a drain, in a separate sink, that I keep my dish pan in. It got really disgusting under there and I wanted to clean it, without using a bunch of chemicals. When you pour the vinegar on top, it creates a chemical reaction and there is no baking soda left, when it's done, to become hard. (01/21/2009)
By Chris T.
Hot water, baking soda and vinegar is the magic potion. If you omit the vinegar you will not get the vigorous foaming action that uses up all the baking soda.
I use baking soda and vinegar on pet stained carpeting. That can leave a powdery residue which is easily swept up. (01/22/2009)
By Tracy
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