It happens to everyone, but it can be embarrassing when you have house guests, and dirty water backs up in your sink or bathtub. The drains in your home are constantly working overtime as they can accumulate food waste, oil, shampoo, hair, and other debris that can result in a blockage.

You may feel conflicted because you don’t want harsh chemicals in your home, but you want clean and clear drains. If your sink or shower drains have a minor clog, baking soda and vinegar may be able to sort out the problem. However, if you need something more powerful but still want to go down the natural route, plumbers at Cals Plumbing have shared the “best option”.

The pros said: “If baking soda does not work and you want a stronger DIY option, washing soda is the best option.”

Sodium carbonate, most commonly known as soda crystals, is a common item in cleaning household goods and an “excellent do-it-yourself drain unclogging ingredient”. 

The plumbers explained: “Its alkalinity is higher than baking soda; thus [it's] a more effective drain cleaner.”

What makes soda crystals a great choice for this job is that soda crystals have detergent properties, which help tackle dirt and grease. It’s these grease-fighting properties that make it great at dealing with fat-clogged drains.

How to unblock drains with soda crystals

Start by pouring hot, not boiling, water and soda crystals down the drain of your sink. Then, add a cup of hot water and wait five minutes. 

This should assist in clearing any obstructions. If your sink continues to drain slowly, repeat the step.

The plumbing experts shared a pro tip for those who don’t have soda crystals to hand. Pour a half-inch of baking soda into a roasting tin or baking dish, and bake it for one hour at 200C/180C Fan/Gas Mark 6. 

They said: “This will result in the discharge of excess carbon dioxide and the formation of washing soda.”