Households in parts of the UK experiencing heavy rain are being urged to pour vinegar down their drains on Monday to prevent blockages. The advice comes after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain in Scotland, with northern England and Northern Ireland also facing showers, while southern England sees rising temperatures.
Why Pour Vinegar Down Drains?
Heavy downpours after dry spells can cause drains to clog with leaves, twigs, and dirt. Kitchen drains may also contribute with fat, grease, and food waste. When blocked drains meet heavy rain, drainpipes can overflow, leading to potential flooding. Using vinegar and baking soda is a cost-effective, non-toxic alternative to chemical drain cleaners.
According to plumbing website Wolseley: “Outside drains do many important jobs, handling everything from domestic waste to leaves and outdoor debris. This means that they can become easily blocked but luckily drain unblocking is quite simple to do by yourself if a problem occurs.”
How to Use Vinegar and Baking Soda
Plumbcare explains the method: “Mix two parts baking soda and one part salt and pour down the drain. Warm four parts vinegar and pour down on top of the baking soda and salt. It will bubble and fizz. Let it work for 15 minutes and then flush through with hot water.”
Wolseley also recommends adding grates and filters to outside drains to stop garden debris, and using small filters indoors to catch food waste and hair.
The Met Office forecast for Monday states: “Rain persists across northern and northwestern Scotland. Cloudy at first across Northern Ireland and northern England with patchy drizzle. Elsewhere, sunny spells. Very warm and locally hot in the southeast.”
