If a blocked and foul-smelling kitchen drain is plaguing your post-Christmas clean-up, a remarkably simple solution using two common household items could be the answer. According to a popular cleaning expert, you can tackle the grime and odour without harsh chemicals.
The Expert's Simple Two-Ingredient Method
Cleaning enthusiast Chantel Mila, known online as Mama Mila, shared her straightforward tip on TikTok to help households get their homes in order before 2026. Her advice centres on a classic combination: baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and white vinegar.
The method involves pouring equal amounts of both ingredients directly down the plughole. This triggers a chemical reaction that helps to loosen and shift accumulated dirt, grease, and stuck-on muck. Following the fizzing reaction, flushing the drain with boiling water helps wash the debris away, leading to better drainage and a fresher sink.
How The Science Fights Smells and Blockages
The effectiveness of this DIY remedy is backed by basic chemistry. As Audrey Pariés of Aspen Clean explained to Martha Stewart, baking soda is an alkaline substance that neutralises acidic compounds, which are often the source of unpleasant odours.
Meanwhile, the acetic acid in vinegar reacts with the baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas. This fizzy action helps to agitate and break down stubborn build-ups in the pipe. For persistent smells, it's important to note that the neutralising process can take up to 24 hours, and may require several days for deeply ingrained odours.
Additional Household Items for Drain Care
Beyond the classic vinegar and baking soda duo, other common kitchen staples can assist. Lemon juice, rich in citric acid, is also excellent for breaking down grease and helping to neutralise a range of smells. Both bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice work to eliminate the source of nasty pongs by tackling the grease and grime itself.
This accessible, cost-effective method offers a quick first response for slow-draining or smelly sinks, potentially saving a call to a plumber and getting your kitchen back to full working order after the festive season.
