The septic system relies on good bacteria to treat the sewage and water waste. Over-the-counter drain cleaners can kill the bacteria on which the system relies. Express Septic Services understands that drains can get clogged, slow down, and start to smell. It’s important to understand that these problems can also be a sign that your septic system is backing up. If the problem is a dirty drain, there is a Safeway you can clean all of your household drains that is not harmful to your septic system.
Gather Your Supplies
Cleaning the drains will not take too much of your time, so plan this DIY project on your day off or during the evening. The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure you have everything you need on hand. To clean your drains naturally without damaging your septic system, you’ll need
- Baking soda
- Plain salt
- White vinegar
That’s it! That is all you need for this cleaning project. The only other thing that you should have on hand is a 1/2 cup measuring cup to measure the baking soda and white vinegar. Gather your supplies and head to the first household drain you want to treat with the baking soda and vinegar in hand.
Treat the Drains
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Try to get as much baking soda in the drain as possible. Follow this with 1/2 cup white vinegar. Once you pour the vinegar down the drain, the solution will start to sizzle. Plug the drain to prevent the baking soda and white vinegar from going all the way down the pipe. You want to keep it in the drain. Head to the next sink and repeat the above steps.
Set the Time
Once you have treated and plugged all of your drains, head to the kitchen and set your kitchen timer for 1/2 an hour. You want the baking soda in vinegar to remain in the drains for 30 minutes so it works at dissolving all of the sediment that is stuck to the drain walls.
Rinse the Drains
About 10 minutes before your timer is up, put a large pot of plain water on the stove and bring it to a boil. Once it is boiling, add 1/2 cup of plain salt. You want to use plain salt, not iodized salt. Once the timer goes off, carefully use the boiling water to rinse all of the drains thoroughly.
Aside from keeping your drains clean with this method, you can also call Express Septic Services in Greenville, SC, once a year for a septic system inspection to make sure the tank does not need to be pumped. Call us today.
