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   clacke@libranet.de is my main (notclacke@fedia.social)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Mar-2025 09:17:28 JST clacke@libranet.de is my main

   "Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with a cup or two of hot water"
   
   Yeah! That creates an alkaline solution, and if you pour that down your drain, it can cause some fats trapped in there to turn into a soap, which is water soluble, helping you remove them.
   
   "(you can also add white vinegar for a bit more punch)"
   
   ... aaaand you failed high school chemistry. Vinegar is sour and neutralizes the alkaline solution. Worst case, the reaction causes heat and bubbling that may damage your pipes.
   baking soda is a base, it's alkaline. vinegar is an acid, it's acidic. adding an acid to a base makes it less alkaline.

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     clacke@libranet.de is my main (notclacke@fedia.social)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Mar-2025 09:26:19 JST clacke@libranet.de is my main

     in reply to

     Some of your blockage may be stuff that would be dissolved by an acid, some may be stuff that would be dissolved by a base. Don't use both at the same time. Flush with generous amounts of water between using the two.

     Linux Walt (@lnxw37j1) {3EB165E0-5BB1-45D2-9E7D-93B31821F864} likes this.
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     hypolite (hypolite@friendica.mrpetovan.com)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Mar-2025 22:25:54 JST hypolite

     in reply to
     @notclacke This is the next post in my timeline: mstdn.social/@aSweetGentleman/…
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     clacke@libranet.de is my main (notclacke@fedia.social)'s status on Thursday, 13-Mar-2025 20:07:34 JST clacke@libranet.de is my main

     in reply to

     • anubis2814

     @anubis2814 If people do it a lot and have somewhat thin plastic drains in the upper part of the plumbing ... I don't know. I wouldn't put it past some people to pour lye down the drain. I agree that baking soda and vinegar is weak sauce but I stand by my statement if only because it might stop someone from mixing heavier stuff.

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     anubis2814 (anubis2814@friendica.myportal.social)'s status on Thursday, 13-Mar-2025 20:07:35 JST anubis2814

     in reply to
     @notclacke I think they believe the bubbling might cause things to break up better via mechanical force. Also the heat might help or melt. I can't imagine it being so extreme though that it causes damage, it's not like you dumped pure lye down the drain. The pH is fairly low. Also many drain cleaners are acids that are meant to break down hair.
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