My bathroom has been in dire need of a deep-clean, and when I noticed the lingering pool of water in the bath after having a shower, I knew it was time to tackle the drain. Previously I’ve relied upon Mr Muscle Drain Unblocker, but I didn’t have time to seek it out from the supermarket. 

Instead, I turned to two household ingredients that are constantly touted as the best for every little problem you could possibly have. These products you’ll probably already have in your cupboard: baking soda and vinegar. I’ve been sceptical about this combination, having previously used it to clean up my toilet bowl in comparison to Black Harpic.

Spoiler warning - the Black Harpic was significantly better at the job. 

No matter how many times I watched the toilet bowl fizz, the grime would not dissipate. So how would baking soda and vinegar fare when unblocking my shower drain?

Firstly, I need to remove the hair from the plughole.

The banes of having long hair means that copious amounts of matted, stringy sludge blocks the entrance to the plug. 

I’d recommend doing this before applying any homemade remedy. 

I’ve seen various TikTokers recommend different amounts of baking soda and white vinegar, so my best guess is to eye-ball the amount which I feel is appropriate.

I shake the baking soda until there is a small mound covering the plughole, followed by a liberal pour of the white vinegar. I can’t tell you precise measurements. 

I watch as the ingredients make a satisfying fizzy, not too dissimilar from the fake volcanoes you make in primary school.

Honestly, it’s just a game of trial and error - as most cleaning procedures are.

As a watched pot never boils, I left the solution to marinate and do its job. After around 15 to 20 minutes, I boiled a kettle and proceeded to pour it down the drain. 

The water didn’t pool like it had done before, but trickled down the plughole, significantly quicker but not quick. But it did the job, the drain - for now - is operating as it should.

I guess there is some truth to the praise behind baking soda and white vinegar. Although not entirely appropriate to remove tough grime, it seems effective for drains. 

How long will it last before I need to repeat the process? Who knows. But it’s been a few days, and so far, so good. I'd call this homemade remedy a success.