If you’ve ever scrolled through home maintenance hacks, you’ve probably seen this one: pouring salt down the drain at night. It sounds a little strange, but this old-school trick actually works.
Salt, that simple ingredient we usually reserve for cooking, has a surprising superpower in home maintenance. It can help clear drains, eliminate odors, and even prevent clogs. Let’s explore why this simple kitchen staple deserves a spot in your home care routine.
What Exactly Is Salt Doing in Your Drain
Salt is more than just seasoning; it’s a natural cleaner. With its abrasive texture and moisture-absorbing properties, salt works as a gentle scrubbing agent inside your pipes.
When poured down the drain, salt:
- Attracts and absorbs moisture inside the pipe.
- Loosens grime, grease, and soap scum buildup.
- Helps dislodge minor clogs and neutralize odors.
It’s safe, affordable, and eco-friendly — everything a homeowner could ask for in a quick maintenance fix.
Why Pour Salt Down the Drain at Night
There’s actually a good reason this trick is often done before bedtime. At night, your plumbing system isn’t being used. This means the salt has hours to sit, react, and break down residue.
This practice can help deal with slow-moving drains, unpleasant odors wafting up from your sink, and signs of a mildly clogged drain. A generous sprinkle of salt followed by boiling water can be your quick-fix solution.
How to Use Salt to Clean Your Drain
Here is a simple method to clean your drain. You can try at home:
- Pour half a cup of salt down your drain
- Add an equal amount of citric acid or baking soda
- Let the mixture sit overnight to react with grease and grime
- In the morning, pour boiling water down the drain
- For extra freshness, rinse with a bit of vinegar or lemon juice
If your drains are already severely clogged, don’t try this method. Call a professional plumber for help.
How Does Salt Work As a Home Remedy
Besides its culinary use, salt is a homeowner’s best friend due to its numerous household applications. From cleaning stained coffee pots to deterring ants and removing rust, salt is a versatile tool in your domestic arsenal. Salt can help deal with minor clogs in kitchen drains and also act as a disinfectant in toilet drains.
Can Salt and Boiling Water Really Unclog Drains
Yes, but only to a point. Salt’s coarse texture makes it great for treating minor logs caused by soap scum, grease, or small food particles. When it is combined with boiling water, it helps melt fat and wash away buildup.
However, if you’re dealing with frequent backups or standing water, it’s likely more than a surface issue. In that case, it’s best to call a professional to identify the root cause before it turns into a bigger plumbing problem.
How Long Should Salt Stay in the Drain
If you’ve heard people say, “Leave salt in the drain overnight,” they’re right. Salt needs time to work; sitting overnight allows it to absorb moisture, dissolve grime, and react with other residue in your pipes. Leaving it for a longer time (for several hours) and then flushing it with hot water clears away the loosened buildup, helping your drain flow more freely again.
Putting Salt in the Drain: Fact or Fiction
Some people think that it’s a myth that salt can unclog the drain. However, it is not a myth but a fact. It’s a safe, budget-friendly way to maintain healthy plumbing and prevent minor clogs from becoming big ones.
Salt can help you deal with minor clogs. However, if the clog is not minor and the issue persists for a long time, it is recommended to get help from home inspection professionals.
Do Homemade Drain Cleaners Work
While commercial cleaners are undoubtedly effective, they come with their share of drawbacks – toxic fumes and potential pipe corrosion. On the other hand, homemade drain cleaners like salt, vinegar, or baking soda are non-toxic and safe for your septic system. They offer a gentler yet potent alternative.
Just remember, natural solutions are preventive, not corrective. Use them regularly to avoid buildup, but if your sink keeps clogging, that’s your sign to call a professional.
Common Salt-Based Drain Cleaning Mixtures
To enhance the effectiveness of salt, it is recommended to combine it with other household ingredients:
- Salt and Hot Water: Pouring about half a cup of table salt down the drain, followed by hot water, is a common method. The hot water helps dissolve the salt and can loosen some debris. It is better to pour the salt down the drain at night.
- Salt and Baking Soda: This popular combination creates an abrasive mixture. It also needs several hours to clean before being flushed with hot water. This mixture is also suggested for neutralizing odors.
- Salt, Baking Soda, and Vinegar: A mixture of these ingredients creates a fizzing foam. It can help to break down grease, food particles, and mineral deposits. It is usually left for 15-30 minutes before flushing with boiling water.
What Not to Pour Down the Drain
Now that you know that you can put salt down the drain, there are other things you cannot. Those things are:
- Grease or cooking oil (it solidifies inside pipes)
- Coffee grounds (they clump and cause blockages)
- Fibrous foods like celery or potato peels
They are all infamous for causing home drain blockages. By being mindful of what goes down your drain, you can prevent many unpleasant plumbing issues.
Check out this video about why it’s a good idea to pour salt down the drain at night.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know about pouring salt down the drain, let’s take a look at other areas of recommended maintenance. One of those is a drain cleaner in the garbage disposal. It is not a good idea to use drain cleaner as the chemicals can ruin the garbage disposal. Instead, it is better to use baking soda, vinegar, or a plunger.
Another is bathroom water, and whether it is safe to drink. It can be safe to drink if the sink is used frequently and if there are no unusual tastes or smells. It is also important to know if the plumbing is older. If it is, having the water tested would be a good idea.
Lastly, you need to know if Charmin is septic-safe. Yes, it is made with dissolvable materials that break down in water, reducing clogs and damage to the system.
When to Call a Professional
While salt works wonders with minor clogs and odors, persistent issues merit professional attention. If your drains are consistently slow or back up frequently, it’s time to call up a trusted plumber. You don’t want to let drain issues go on for long, so the quicker you can call a professional, the better.
Final Thoughts
Salt is surprisingly powerful when it comes to home maintenance. Despite being easily overlooked, it is an impactful household tool in maintaining the health of the drain. Easy to use, affordable, and non-toxic, this pantry staple is worth its weight in gold. But remember, while DIY solutions can be lifesavers, don’t hesitate to contact professionals for stubborn problems. While you are taking care of the drain, it is a great time to reach out to RedFish Inspections for a home inspection in Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas.
