GREEN YOUR: BATHROOM {SHOWER}

Last week I had the unpleasant task of unclogging our shower drain.  I know.  Eww, right?  Drano to the rescue?  No way man!  Soap-scummy dirty standing water is gross enough without adding nasty chemicals to the mix.   In a word, YUCK!  As in Mr. Yuk.

Chemical drain cleaners are among the most hazardous household products available to the public.  There’s the seriously-nasty-acid-based cleaners made with chemicals like sulphuric acid {that eat everything it comes in contact with, including your skin} and the slightly-less-nasty-caustic cleaners made with sodium hypochlorite (bleach), sodium hydroxide (lye), or potassium hydroxide (caustic potash).  Both require extreme caution when using, storing, and disposing.  Health hazards include: severe eye and skin burns, inflammation of respiratory membranes, corrosive burns to all human tissue, vision loss upon contact with eyes, and death if swallowed.  They MUST be kept out of children’s reach!  To properly dispose of the stuff you have to take it to a hazardous waste drop-off and the plastic container it comes in cannot be recycled due to the chemical residue inside.  Sounds like a bad deal all around.

There are safer drain cleaners on the market.  These usually consist of enzymes to get the job done.  Enzymes work by eating and breaking down organic matter.  They take longer and are not as effective on a clog, but work wonders on regular maintenance to prevent clogs.  Biokleen’s Bac-Out is a great one.  You can also go old-school-frugalista style and use plain ol’ baking soda and vinegar.  This is my preferred method of drain cleansing.  Just pack some baking soda down your drain, about a cup or so {no need to measure, we’re not baking here} followed by an equal amount of vinegar.  Enjoy the fizzy goodness for a bit and then go put a tea kettle of water on to boil.  Once your kettle is screaming, carefully take it to the drain and pour down to rinse away the baking soda, vinegar, and any gunk in the process.  This is also a great way to deodorize drains and garbage disposals if you have such a thing.  Regular baking soda/vinegar cleansing should keep your plumbing clear.  If you are unfortunate enough {like me} to get a stubborn clog then more drastic measures are required, but still no chemicals.

A drain auger, commonly referred to as a drain snake, is a great eco-friendly way to clear your pipes.  You can read about my drain snake/hair rat experience in my Green Phone Booth post: Down the drain.

Tagged as: GREEN PHONE BOOTH, GREEN YOUR: BATHROOM {SHOWER}, YOU CAN DO IT: GOING GREEN, YOU CAN DO IT: SUSTAINABLE LIVING

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