The smell came first.
Not the horrible smell of a blocked sewer, just a faint, sour smell coming from the kitchen sink every time the water ran. You hear a little gurgle when you rinse a plate, but you act like you don’t notice. The water in the basin stops moving one night, spins slowly, and then stops.
You grab your phone, type “clogged drain what to do,” and you already know what to do: vinegar, baking soda and a volcano in the sink. Once more.
This time, though, the cupboard is empty and you’re sick of being a chemist.
There is another way. One that is quieter and lazier.
The half-glass trick that quietly saves your drain without vinegar or baking soda
We all know what it’s like when the water doesn’t quite go down and you tell yourself, “It’ll work itself out.”
The shower turns into a shallow pool over time, and the kitchen sink grumbles for a few seconds before swallowing the suds. It’s not a big deal; it’s just annoying.
This is when the internet usually starts yelling, “Vinegar and baking soda!”
You foam the pipes once, twice, five times, and the problem always seems to come back. You know that your pipes are just patiently collecting everything you throw at them.
Take Léa, who lives in a small apartment with an old plumbing system where the pipes sing every time the upstairs neighbor takes a shower.
She tried every “hack” she saw on social media for months: boiling water, baking soda, white vinegar, and even cola on a Sunday when she was really desperate. It worked every time. For a week.
Then one night she saw a comment under a DIY video that said, “Forget the volcano.” A half glass of salt and hot water is better.
She was tired and didn’t believe it, but she tried it. The drain made a noise and gurgled, and the next day the water was gone as if nothing had happened.
There is something simple behind this small act. No magic, just some chemistry and physics.
Grease, soap residue, and small bits of food don’t just block the pipe; they also make a sticky film inside it, like plaque on teeth.
The grains act like little scrubbers when you pour salt and then hot water over them. The heat melts the fats and helps get rid of them.
No acid attack, no foam show, just a slow, mechanical clean-up that doesn’t hurt older pipes and doesn’t make you sick with fumes.
How to clean your drain with just half a glass (and nothing else)
The method is so easy that it’s almost embarrassing.
Take the regular table salt that is next to your stove. Pour about half a glass directly into the drain, making sure to spread it around the edge so that some grains stick to the walls.
Then heat up a lot of water, not just warm, but hot enough to almost boil. Pour slowly over the salt in two or three stages, letting it sit for a few seconds between each pour.
After that, leave it alone and let it do its thing.
Being impatient is the trap that most people fall into.
We pour, wait thirty seconds, and then we check the drain like we’re checking our email. We hurry to the store to get a chemical unblocker if the water still drains slowly.
Let the mixture sit for a while. Let it sit for at least thirty minutes, an hour for a stubborn drain, or even overnight for a shower trap that is full of hair and shampoo residue.*It takes more than five minutes for your pipes to get completely unclogged.*
And if you’re thinking, “I should do this every week,” don’t worry. To be honest, no one really does this every day.
Sometimes the best solutions aren’t the ones that look great. There is no fizz, smoke, or smell; only quiet work going on that you can’t see.
- Pour half a glass of salt slowly down the drain, preferably at night.
- Let the tap rest for at least 30 to 60 minutes before you use it again.
- For busy kitchens or showers that get a lot of use, one preventive session every two to three weeks.
- If the water stops draining completely or backs up into other fixtures, call a professional.
- A small weekly habit that changes how you feel about your home
This half-glass trick isn’t just a “tip” that you forget about in three days.
It changes the way you feel about your home in a quiet way. That washbasin isn’t just a hole where everything goes anymore; it’s part of a small system that you can take care of without chemicals or drama.
You start to notice little things, like how the smell goes away faster after cooking, how there aren’t as many strange gurgles at night, and how the shower drains almost too quickly. You might tell a friend over coffee or your mum on the phone, and you can see that little spark in their reply: “Really?” Only salt?
| Key Point | Detail | Value for the Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Gentle Cleaning | Half a glass of table salt combined with hot water helps dissolve grease and residue without harsh chemicals. | Protects pipes while saving money on cleaning products and plumber visits. |
| Simple Routine | Use the method every 2–3 weeks in frequently used sinks and showers. | Helps prevent clogs before they develop into costly emergencies. |
| Everyday Ingredients | Requires only basic kitchen salt and hot water, with no vinegar or baking soda. | Effective even when cleaning supplies run out or stores are closed. |
Questions and Answers:
Question 1: Is it okay to use coarse salt, or does it have to be fine table salt?Fine table salt works best because it moves through the pipes more easily. Coarse salt can be used, but you need to follow it with a lot of hot water so it dissolves properly.
Question 2: Is this method safe for pipes that are old?Yes, salt and hot water are usually safer than many store-bought unblockers that have strong chemicals that can hurt older or more fragile pipes.
Question 3: What if my drain is completely blocked and water doesn’t move at all?If that’s the case, the salt trick might not work on its own. Start by clearing away any visible debris, then try a plunger. If that doesn’t work, it’s best to call a professional.
Question 4: Can I mix this with vinegar or baking soda to make it stronger?You can, but the point is to do a simple, non-reactive clean. Salt and hot water alone work well on light to moderate build-up.
Question 5: How often should I do the half-glass treatment again for the best results?To keep them flowing freely, you usually only need to clean them once every two to three weeks in a busy kitchen or shower and once a month in drains that aren’t used very often.
