It doesn’t take much to pour some Drano down a clogged sink, but what do you do about the putrid residual stink that smells up the room when you are done?
Believe it or not you can’t find many pleasant-smelling drain cleaners on the market toady, which is why most people resort to dumping the Drano, and then following up with a concoction of homemade remedies, such as:
Baking Soda and Vinegar: This tried and true recipe is one of the easiest and cheapest to make. All you need is a small box of baking soda and a bottle of vinegar. Simply pour half of the baking soda down the drain, and then follow by slowly adding a cup of vinegar. You should see foam as the two ingredients react. Allow the mixture to settle for about 30 minutes, and then rinse the drain with hot water.
Salt and Baking Soda: This homemade drain cleaner recipe calls for 2 cups boiling water, 1/4 cup cream of tartar, 1 cup salt and 1 cup baking soda. To make: place two cups of water in a pan and bring to a boil. Then, in a measuring cup, mix together baking soda, salt and cream of tartar. Once you have it well combined, place the mixture into a plastic zip-top bag and shake well. Next, pour one-quarter of the mixture down the drain, add the hot water, and allow it to stand for 30 minutes. When time has elapsed, flush the drain with clean, cool water.
Borax: When all else fails, try some Borax. Simply bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, and then pour one cup of Borax down the drain. Wait a minute or two, and then add the boiling water. Allow the ingredients to sit for about an hour. Finish by running clean, cool water down the drain for a couple of minutes before using the sink again.