Annie Berthold-Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home, isn’t the only one with a problem bathroom sink. And so Greenthinkers put her solutions to the test.

As she writes…

When our drains get clogged, we have been unwaveringly convinced that nothing short of the most powerful chemical arsenal will work. As a result, most of us resort to commercial drain cleaners that are some of the most dangerous chemicals found in the home. Lye or acid, these products can harm health, the wastewater stream, and PVC pipes. A gentle yet effective approach to coaxing free a clog from a drain is to use simple household ingredients instead of burning a hole through the clog with industrial lye or acid.

So here is what we tried. First up came the classic baking soda method. Pour one cup of baking soda followed by three cups of boiling water. The boiling water will change the chemical composition of baking soda, making it more alkaline. We did this once and followed up with the bubbling vinegar and baking soda method. Baking soda and vinegar react with each other to cause bubbles and fizzing. Follow one cup of baking soda with one cup of vinegar.

And it worked. The drain is free of clogs. Thanks baking soda and vinegar, what can’t you do.

Photo credit: Walter Anderson Plumbing Inc.