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Does vinegar unclog pipes?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 22, 2026

Along with gravity, this pressure helps remove unwanted goop out of the pipes and unclogs drains. Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water can help clean drains naturally, but you may need something stronger, like Liquid-Plumr, to fully unclog those really tough drain clogs.

What kind of vinegar do you use to unclog a drain?

Pour a mixture of 1 cup vinegar (apple cider vinegar works best) and 1 cup boiling water down the drain. (Substitute lemon juice for vinegar for a great-smelling drain ? Plug the drain to keep the vinegar baking soda reaction below the drain surface.

Is vinegar safe for pipes?

The answer is that vinegar will not harm your pipes if used in small doses as recommended in many of the recipes that you find online. No matter what your pipes are made of, pex, pvc, copper, etc. Vinegar will not harm your water pipes.

How long should vinegar sit in a clogged pipe?

Sprinkle baking soda down the drain. Pour in the vinegar and let it fizz for five to 10 minutes. Pour in boiling water (careful — don't burn yourself with the steam).

Can I leave vinegar in my drain overnight?

If it's still clogged, pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the drain, followed by two cups of boiling water. Let it work overnight to clear the drain.

40 related questions found

Does white vinegar clear clogged drains?

You can also pour vinegar down the drain on its own.

Pour about 1 cup of vinegar down your drain and let it sit for 30-40 minutes. Vinegar has a very high acid content (which is why it's great on soap scum) and it will break down a good bit of the organic content that is stuck.

Is it safe to dump vinegar down the drain?

The following items should never be poured down the sink with bleach: Vinegar. Ammonia. Rubbing alcohol.

What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

Mix 1/2 cup table salt and 1/2 cup baking soda together, and pour down drain. Let sit for about 30 minutes (or overnight if it's a tough clog), and follow with a pot of boiling water.

Is vinegar corrosive to copper?

Acidic substances react with the surface of copper, causing it to tarnish and corrode almost instantly. This corrosion is highly soluble, leading to the presence of toxic copper salts in the food. This is why it is not recommended to use copper vessels for foods high in acidity, such as milk, wine, or vinegar.

How do you dissolve hair in a drain?

Use Baking Soda & Vinegar Before Plunging It Out: Baking soda and vinegar can be an extremely effective way of dispatching many clogs, and hair clogs are no exception. For best results, start by squirting a little dish soap into your drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda.

Does boiling water unclog drains?

Try Using Boiling Water to Fix a Clogged Sink

If you have metal pipes, you can try to loosen the clog with hot water—very hot. Pouring a pot of boiling water directly down the drain into the trap may dissolve the clog, especially if it consists of soap scum or grease.

How do you clear a slow drain?

Here's how to unclog a slow-moving drain without calling a plumber:

  1. Step 1: Boil a kettle of water. ...
  2. Step 2: Grab the baking soda. ...
  3. Step 3: Add 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of very hot water. ...
  4. Step 4: Cover the drain with a plug and let it sit for 10 minutes. ...
  5. Boil one more kettle of water.

Can you use vinegar to clean copper pipes?

If you don't have metal polish to hand and you want a home solution, try dissolving a tablespoon of salt in a cup of white vinegar. Use a soft cloth to rub the salt-and-vinegar mixture onto the pipe. It'll create a chemical reaction that will usually remove the tarnish from copper within seconds.

Can I use vinegar on copper pipes?

To get rid of grime, rust, and hard water deposits inside and outside of pipes, dismantle them and let them sit in a large plastic bin filled with distilled white vinegar for at least 15 minutes. Use a cotton rag to work off any tough spots, then rinse and set pipes upright on a towel to drain.

Will baking soda and vinegar harm copper pipes?

No, the baking soda/vinegar reaction created in a drain/household plumbing system does not take place in a closed system so pressure can't build up enough to blast a clog out of the pipes.

Does vinegar dissolve hair?

Combining baking soda and vinegar is a natural way to dissolve hair clogs, without resorting to harsh chemicals.

How much baking soda and vinegar does it take to unclog a drain?

Let hot water run for a minute to warm up the pipes. Drop in 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. Pour in 1 cup of vinegar, cover the drain with a plug and let sit for 10 minutes – you will hear fizzing. Rinse with more hot water.

What liquid do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains.

How often should I pour vinegar down the drain?

Pour Vinegar Down Your Drain Every Three Months to Keep Clogs Away.

Can I pour rice vinegar down the drain?

May it be rice vinegar, white vinegar or any other, it would suit this recipe. You need not choose any concentrated vinegar to unclog a drain as the milder version you have in your kitchen for cooking would do good. You would need something to make this solution flow through the drain. Water comes handy for this.

Does vinegar sink in water?

Explanation: They don't mix in water and will float. ... Household vinegar consists almost entirely of water, but with some acetic acid molecules dissolved in it. In general, dissolving stuff in water makes it more dense, making vinegar the densest of the three.

How do you flush a water pipe with vinegar?

HOME WARRANTY TIP:

  1. ATTACH A GARDEN HOSE TO THE BOTTOM VALVE OF YOUR WATER HEATER. ...
  2. DRAIN PART OF YOUR TANK. ...
  3. POUR TWO GALLONS OF VINEGAR INTO YOUR WATER TANK.
  4. OPEN HOT WATER TAPS AROUND THE HOUSE UNTIL YOU SMELL VINEGAR. ...
  5. FLUSH WATER UNTIL YOU CAN NO LONGER SMELL VINEGAR.

What is the best vinegar for cleaning?

White distilled vinegar is the best vinegar for cleaning because it doesn't contain a coloring agent. Therefore, it won't stain surfaces. Staining can happen when cleaning with a darker-colored vinegar.

Can copper pipes get clogged?

Both PVC and copper pipes may become clogged with mineral deposits as they become older. To protect the water and sewage lines in your house, we recommend investing in a whole-house water softener system to remove magnesium, calcium, and copper from your water.

Can you use CLR on copper pipes?

CLR products are safe for all pvc products. It is also safe for copper plumbing and septic tanks. The materials to avoid using CLR on are painted surfaces, aluminum, etched glass, Formica, colored grout, natural stone, brass and copper.