PREVENTING CLOGS: Most people lack a fundamental understanding of how even simple clogs in their home take place. While most toilet clogs come from too much toilet paper in the flush, the vast majority of sink, shower and tub clogs come from a build up of soap scum and particulates combining into a solid mass. Every time we wash our hands, hair and bodies, soap scum is building in our pipes. This sticky residue is like a glue that holds smaller solids like hair and food particles in place.

One cheap and effective solution is to pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and 3 cups of white vinegar into your sink and let it sit for about 3 minutes. Baking soda (Sodium hydrogen carbonate ) is a terrific cleaning agent and helps get rid of foul odors. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which acts as an excellent organic solvent in removing organic buildup of crud in pipes. When you mix vinegar and baking soda you get bubbles. Why you may ask? Since vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base, they undergo an acid-base reaction. When an acid and a base are mixed together, the result is that the acid and base neutralize each other to form water and a small amount of salt. In the case of vinegar and baking soda, the acetic acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate combine to form water, carbon dioxide (hence the bubbles), and sodium acetate – the perfect pipe cleaning solution.

After the bubbles finish, wait a few minutes then rinse it for another 3 minutes with very hot water and lemon juice. The hot water keeps oils moving down your pipes and the lemon juice gives your sink a fresh smell.

Lastly, and when ever possible, store oils and grease in jars and try not to put solids into your sink. I know garbage disposals promise effective waste management, but when we rely on them, we are asking for clogs

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