The claim
Pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain, wait, then flush with hot water. The fizz is supposed to break up the clog and push it through.
What actually happens
Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid, so they cancel each other out. What's left is mostly salty water and carbon dioxide gas. The fizz you see is that gas escaping. It has no real push behind it, and it bubbles up toward the opening instead of down into the clog. Most bathroom sink clogs are hair wrapped in soap scum. Nothing in that mix can dissolve hair.
It won't hurt your pipes, and the hot water rinse after can loosen a little soft grease. It won't clear a real clog.
What to do instead
- 1
Pull out the sink stopper. Some lift straight up, some twist, and some unhook under the sink.
- 2
Pull the hair off the stopper with a paper towel.
- 3
Push a plastic drain snake down the drain and pull it back up slowly.
- 4
Wipe off what comes up, then repeat until it comes up clean.
- 5
Stuff a wet rag in the overflow hole and plunge with a small cup plunger.
- 6
Put a bucket under the curved pipe, called the P-trap, if it's still slow.
- 7
Unscrew the P-trap nuts by hand, empty it, rinse it and screw it back on.
Questions
Is baking soda and vinegar bad for my pipes?
No. It's mild and safe for pipes. It's mostly a waste of baking soda and vinegar when the clog is hair.
Should I use chemical drain cleaner instead?
Try the snake first. If you've already poured in a chemical cleaner, don't plunge or open the trap, because it can splash on your skin or eyes.
Where do I get a plastic drain snake?
Hardware stores and big box stores carry them for about $3 to $6. They're the flat plastic strips with little barbs along the sides.
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