Tackling blocked drains can be a nightmare, but one savvy mum and influencer has revealed her secret to making the chore less daunting and it’s an all-natural method too.
Judy Gilroy, who graces Instagram as @judygilroy, is known for her creative interior tips, stylish life hacks, and motherly advice, which she shares with her 36,100 followers. In a recent video, she divulged a nifty trick for unclogging drains that she swears by.
In her post, Judy enticed her audience with the question: “Blocked drains? Try this! Nothing drives me crazy like blocked bathroom drains. I discovered this great hack to clean them naturally and it works a charm! Best part? It’s so simple and quick to do.”
She advised her fans to pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a double measure of white vinegar, saying: “I wouldn’t get too bogged down by measurements – just make sure it’s a 1:2 ratio.”
Judy described how you should witness a bubbling reaction in the sink as the baking soda meets the vinegar, then recommended covering the drain swiftly with a cloth and leaving it for 10-15 minutes to do its work.
Following that, she instructed: “Put some hot / boiling water down the drain to flush it through. You can just use the hot tap although I used the kettle here.”
To finish off, Judy suggested squeezing some lemon juice down the drain to combat any lingering smells, adding: “This is great for any drains in the house when you have a spare lemon and think of it.”
Concluding her post, she excitedly declared: “It’s so easy! Let me know if you try it.”
Judy’s video also helpfully demonstrated the process, allowing followers to easily replicate it.
The tip was a hit with many, as one user exclaimed: “Such a great hack! ” Another echoed the sentiment, saying: “Love this tip! “.
A third added their voice, commenting: “Wow thanks for the tip. I discovered the baking soda trick to eliminate bad drain odour. But the smell returned in a few hours. Now I will do your vinegar and lemon trick as often as I can.”
However, there was a note of caution from another, who warned: “Never put boiling water down drains, ruins the pipes! “.
Echoing this concern, brand WP Plumbing confirmed: “Regularly subjecting your kitchen pipeline to boiling water will only soften or melt its joints (usually held together with glue). Over time, the water pipes will deteriorate and leak, requiring immediate repairs or replacement.”
Hence, it might be wise to use just warm water when trying out this hack!