Slow Drains and Fast Cures

A reader writes The Green Guide:

I have a slow drain in my bathtub and I hesitate to use the commercial drain cleaners in case some of the chemicals get into my bathwater. I recall reading somewhere about some organic or natural compounds that might be useful, but I can't recall what they were. Do you have any info I might find useful?

Thank you,
Pam

The Green Guide responds:

Try a manual method—a plunger or a snake—before you start pouring things down your slow drain. But if you want a safer liquid drain cleaner, think junior high science fair volcano—a little baking soda, a little vinegar, a big fizz. You can add salt, too, then let sit for 10 to 20 minutes before flushing with boiling water. Try a cup of baking soda, a cup of salt, and 3/4 cup of white vinegar, followed by a gallon of water. (Some endorse adding the salt instead with the water, or covering the drain, or using different ratios.) You might need to repeat a few times for best results. And pouring a kettle of boiling water down the drain every week can keep things from slowing down in the future.

Washing soda's another possibility, more alkaline than baking soda and thus stronger. Pour a cup of washing soda in, let it set for 10 to 20 minutes, then pour in a gallon of boiling water. Do this once or twice a month to prevent clogs from forming. But beware: since washing soda's so alkaline, don't use it if you've recently used a commercial, acid drain cleaner or if you have PVC pipes.

If that's still too low-tech for your drains, you can try a commercial product that uses enzymes and bacteria to eat away organic clogs. They generally need a day or more to work, and you'd do best to let them sit overnight before you pour water down the drain or flush your toilet. Hair takes the longest to be dissolved, so washing soda's probably better for the shower or bath. And enzymes don't work on completely clogged drains, so use a manual method to get water flowing. Choices include Bac-Out (www.bi-o-kleen.com for info; $5.85 for 16 ounces); Bio-Clean (www.connel.com/bioclean; $44.95 for 2 lbs.), Earth Enzymes Drain Opener ($12 for 2 lbs.), and Cycle-Zyme ($20.50 for 1 gallon).