Households urged to pour bicarbonate of soda down the drain in November
It might sound like a waste of money but baking soda is a quick and easy way to prevent a common problem with your drains.
Mrs Hinch's best tips for clearing your sink drains
The heatwaves of summer are a distant memory already, with much of the UK being absolutely battered and lashed by Storm Austen and then Storm Boelo in the past week.
And when heavy rain and strong winds hit our houses, it becomes a testing time as the poor weather conditions threaten to expose your property’s underlying problems.
Met Office weather warnings often outline the risk of damage to property from debris and destruction, and this one is no different, but even rain and leaves can cause issues for your house.
That’s because drains can struggle to cope with heavy rain, especially if they’re also blocked by autumn detritus like fallen leaves and acorns.
But you don’t necessarily need to splash out on expensive professional call-outs to keep your drain running well and keeping your house and garden clear of standing water.
Household experts are urging people to regularly put bicarbonate of soda down their drains, both outside and inside the house, in a bid to keep things flowing.
Baking soda and bicarbonate of soda are actually the same thing. In the UK, it tends to be called bicarbonate of soda, while Americans prefer the term baking soda, but both are names for the same chemical compound, sodium bicarbonate.
Taste.com explains: "Baking soda and bicarb soda refer to the same thing. Australia, New Zealand and the UK use the term bicarb soda, while the US refers to it as baking soda."
To use bicarb to flush your drains and unblock them, plumbing website Wolseley explains: “If your drains regularly block despite precautions, you may wish to start putting baking soda, vinegar, or small amounts of a chemical drain cleaner down your drains to help keep them clear for longer.”
If you do find your drains are running slowly, DIY and home improvement website Wickes explains how to unblock a drain with baking soda/bicarb.
It says: “Having a clogged drain can cause all kinds of issues when using your sinks at home. We have a range of drain unblocking solutions or using some basic household items, you can unclog your drain all by yourself. All you’ll need is baking soda, vinegar, and some boiling water in a jug.
“First, flush boiling water from a kettle down the drain.
“Mix 240ml of boiling water with 240ml of vinegar in a measuring jug. Then, add 120g of baking soda into the mix and pour this into the drain.
“This should foam up inside your drainage pipes and clear the blockage. Let the mixture sit for an hour. After an hour has passed, run hot tap water for up to one minute into the drain.”
