Tried the vinegar and baking soda drain trick and my kitchen sink is worse now

I saw a bunch of videos saying to pour 1 cup of baking soda and 2 cups of vinegar down a slow drain. Did it in my kitchen sink in my apartment last night, and now it's completely clogged. The fizzing just pushed all the gunk further down and it won't drain at all. Anyone know a real fix for this mess, or do I have to call a plumber?

2 comments

2 Comments

murray.cole18h ago

Got to disagree with roberts.aaron on this one, the snake can be a real pain and often just pokes a hole through the clog instead of clearing it. That vinegar and baking soda mess creates a nasty paste that sets like cement. What you need is a proper drain cleaner, the gel kind that sinks down and eats through the grease and food. Let it sit for a few hours, then flush it with the hottest water you can get from the tap. If that doesn't touch it, then you're probably calling the landlord or a plumber.

roberts.aaron20h ago

That trick is basically a science fair volcano for your pipes. The fizz just moves the clog around instead of breaking it up. You need a real drain snake, the kind you can get at any hardware store for like twenty bucks. Feed it down the pipe and twist it until you hook the gunk, then pull it all back out. If you don't own one, a plunger with a good seal might work if you pack a wet rag in the overflow hole first. If that fails, then yeah, it's plumber time.