If water in your sink is draining slowly or emitting an unpleasant odour, you are likely dealing with a blocked drain — but the fix is remarkably straightforward. Food particles, soap, oils and grease travel down pipes daily, causing a build-up over time. However, specialists at Bright & Beautiful have revealed that the most effective method is not a chemical cleaner, bicarbonate of soda or vinegar — but soda crystals.
Why soda crystals work
White vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are common in cleaning, but the chemical reaction when combined is not powerful enough to dislodge fatty grease in drains. Neither can shift food or soap particles, as vinegar is an acid while bicarbonate of soda is weakly alkaline, leaving only fizzy, salty water rather than a clear drain.
Soda crystals are strongly alkaline, enabling them to break down acidic grease and fat so it dissolves readily in water. They also dissolve organic build-ups, making them useful for a bathroom sink blocked with hair or soap scum.
How to use soda crystals
Boil the kettle and pour the boiling water down the drain. Once it has drained away, fill a mug with soda crystals and pour them down the plughole. Allow the soda crystals to sit for five to 10 minutes, giving them time to break down the greasy blockage.
Boil the kettle again and slowly pour it down the drain to flush away the soda crystals along with the dissolved grease and fat. The expert said: "To be extra sure your blockage has completely gone, empty a full kettle of hot water down the sink. Et voilà - your sink should be blockage-free! If your sink still doesn't drain, you should contact a plumber."
