Used bleach in clogged drain; how long to wait before using vinegar (details below)?
Poured bleach into basement drain pipe, which is clogged with paper towels. It didn't work.
Now, I want to try the vinegar and baking soda combo.
Since bleach + vinegar = toxic chlorine fumes, how long should I wait before using vinegar?
Since drain is still clogged, is the bleach still just sitting there? If so, should I just not use the vinegar?
(I would have used snake, but my brother stole it, along with all the tools).
Thank you for your help.
Karen L2015-09-05T13:08:40Z
Favorite Answer
Of course it didn't work. Why would it? Bleach does not dissolve paper towels.There is no point trying vinegar and baking soda, because that won't dissolve paper towels either. It would be a waste of time, vinegar, and baking soda. In order to avoid a chemical reaction, you'd have to wait until the bleach is gone. The only way that will happen is if you pour a bunch of water down the drain and it drains away the bleach. If the drain isn't draining at all or is draining only very slowly, that either won't happen or will take a long time. Bleach does deteriorate and become ineffective over time, but I suppose you will want your drain unclogged sooner than 6 months from now.
Neither bleach nor vinegar will unblock a drain,you need a caustic based treatment.Your hardware or grocery store will have something in stock,just ask.
Look at Youtube for "unblock your toilet" it usually works with just liquid soap and hot water. Don't mic chemicals. Every toilet cleaner has a "don't use this with a different cleaner" warning - why would you risk chlorine fumes ? Drain unblockers usually contain sodium hydroxide aka caustic soda, and that is also potentially dangerous, it attacks eyes and soft tissue so if you use it, take great care.
The basement drain will have a "U" bend in it, and that's where the clog is. Just get your hand down there and clear it. Wrap a plastic bag over your arm.
make a hook in a coat hanger if there not too far down the drain, they shouldn't be the drain should have a pee trap just below the surface. pull the towels out and thread a coat hanger in you should be able to yank them out.