Sinks becoming smelly or taking too much time for the water to clear often means you are dealing with a blocked drain, but it is simple to fix as long as you have one natural item.

It is normal for drains to become clogged up as they have food scraps, soap, and other greasy residues going down the plug daily, eventually leading to a build-up. 

Ollie, an interior specialist at Bathroom Takeaway, has shared that one of the best ways to unblock a drain is not with a chemical cleaner but with soda crystals and hot water. 

He said: “Try using soda crystals, also known as washing soda. It's a simple and inexpensive solution that can effectively clear even the toughest sink blockages.” 

Soda crystals are highly alkaline which means they are very effective at breaking down acidic grease and fat blockages, allowing the build-up to wash away easily.

Why use soda crystals instead of other cleaning solutions? 

Vinegar and baking soda are popular remedies often recommended for various cleaning tasks around the home, but should not be used to unblock a drain.

Vinegar is an acidic solution while baking soda is mildly alkaline, but when combined they neutralise each other to produce a fizzing action that is not strong enough to break through grease. 

While vinegar is very mild it is also acidic and repeated use could harm the materials in pipes while soda crystals are much more gentler on plumbing. 

Soda crystals have been specifically designed to be a powerful degreaser that will break down blockages while also being environmentally friendly and not using any harsh chemicals. 

How to use soda crystals to unclog a drain 

To begin, boil a full kettle and slowly pour the water down the sink.  

Wait a few minutes for the water to drain away, and only once the water is gone pour a large cup of soda crystals down the drain. 

Leave the soda crystals to sit for around five minutes to give it time to unblock the grease buildup. 

Fill the kettle again and bring it to a boil, then carefully pour the boiling water down the plug once again. 

Keep repeating these steps until the drain is completely clear, and you should see improvements every time you do this. 

It should less than 20 minutes to unblock a drain using soda crystals and then the water should be running smoothly without taking ages.