Unclog a Drain Hardened by Baking Soda

Baking soda is often relied on as a natural cleaning solution for clogged drains. By pouring baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar, many homeowners try to clear out grime and debris. However, excessive baking soda can backfire and cause pipes to become blocked with rock-hard deposits.

You'll learn ways to remove a baking soda obstruction at home, preventative steps, and when to call for professional drain cleaning services.

Reasons Baking Soda Hardens in Drain Pipes

There are a few reasons why baking soda transforms from powdery granules into cement-like material inside pipes:

Chemical Reaction with Grime

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base that reacts with acids. When combined with fatty oils, hair, soap scum, and minerals in your drain, a chemical reaction takes place. This interaction produces insoluble salts that solidify into a stubborn clog.

Bonding with Hair and Gunk

The small particles of baking soda cling to slick grease, hair strands, and sticky soap residue along pipe walls. As moisture evaporates, baking soda essentially dries and hardens these drain-clogging substances together.

Accumulation and Drying Out

Using excessive amounts of baking soda means leftover powder collects in drains. Baking soda starts drying out and layering along pipes when it comes into contact with minimal water.

Signs of a Hardened Baking Soda Clog

Indications your drain may be blocked with a concrete-like mass of baking soda include:

• Water drains slowly from sink or tub
• Gurgling noises emit from the drain
• A strong odor of sewage or sulfur coming from drain
• You recently used baking soda in an attempt to clear the clogged drain

Dangers of Baking Soda Clog Buildup

Leaving a baking soda clog can lead to:

• Backed up sewage - Clogged main lines can cause sewage to back up through other drains and toilets. This results in property damage and health hazards.
• Flooding - Slow drainage allows water to overflow from sinks, tubs, and toilets.
• Pipe deterioration - Hard deposits lead to corrosion, cracks, and collapse. Pipes may need replacement.

Methods to Remove Hardened Baking Soda From Drains

It takes a bit of work, but you can break up baking soda sediment clogging your drains using the following techniques:

Needed Materials

Gather these supplies to tackle a baking soda clog:

• Hot water - as close to boiling as possible
• White vinegar or citrus juice like lemon juice
• Plunger or drain snake
• Stiff wire hanger - straightened out

Step-By-Step Process

Follow these steps when removing a hardened baking soda clog:

1. Boil a large pot of water. Carefully pour it down the blocked drain. Hot water helps soften and melt the mass.
2. Pour about a cup of vinegar or lemon juice down the drain. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes. This helps dissolve baking soda deposits.
3. Use a plunger vigorously for several minutes while the vinegar is working. This will help break up the clog.
4. Straighten out a wire hanger. Bend the end to create a small hook. Reach down the drain and fish out loosened chunks.
5. Flush the drain with more hot water.
6. Repeat the process until water flows freely.

Preventing Recurrence

An ounce of prevention is key to avoid repeating a baking soda clog. Follow these tips:

Using Baking Soda the Right Way

• Only use about 1/2 cup baking soda at a time
• Always mix with equal parts vinegar rather than using alone
• After a treatment, run hot water for a few minutes to flush remains down

Cleaning Alternatives

• Use an enzymatic drain cleaner regularly to dissolve gunk
• Clean with a natural liquid degreaser made to cut grease

Preventative Maintenance

• Install drain catchers to trap hair and food scraps
• Avoid pouring grease and oils down sinks
• Flush pipes weekly with hot water

Severe Baking Soda Clog Removal

Extreme baked-on baking soda obstructions may require the following methods:

Professional Drain Cleaning

For heavy-duty clogs a plumber has commercial-grade tools like:

• Augers - Also called drain snakes, these coil devices reach deep into pipes to shred clogs.
• Hydrojetters - Powerful jet streams of water blast away stubborn blockages.

Pipe Removal and Replacement

If the clog is very deep or pipes are damaged, a plumber may need to:

• Disconnect pipes and physically remove clogs
• Replace corroded or cracked pipe sections

Installing a Cleanout Plug

A cleanout plug provides direct access to pipe interiors making it easier to thoroughly clear obstructions.

Professional Drain Cleaning - When It's Needed

While DIY drain cleaning is great, there are times to call in a pro like when:

• You've tried unsuccessfully to clear the clog yourself
• Water won't drain at all from the sink or tub
• You notice severe pipe corrosion or damage
• Clogs persist and return quickly
• You don't feel comfortable doing it yourself

A professional plumber can use state-of-the-art augers and hydrojetters to clear out even the most stubborn baking soda obstructions. They can thoroughly clean pipes and prevent recurring clogs.

Prevention is key to avoid having baking soda harden in drains again. Here are some tips:

• Drain strainers - Fit sink and tub drains with strainers to catch hair and food.
• Enzymatic cleaners - Use an enzyme-based cleaner monthly to break down organic matter.
• Boiling water - Pour down drains weekly to melt grease and keep things flowing.
• Baking soda alternatives - Opt for a commercial drain cleaner or natural liquid soap.

While baking soda is thought of as a gentle cleaner, misuse can lead to rock-hard clogs. With some diligence, you can remove a baking soda obstruction and take steps to prevent recurrence. Know when professional help is needed for persistent or severe clogs.