Drain and toilet cleaner

Alice (Lilou) M-D

https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Nettoyant_canalisations_et_WC/en

Dernière modification le 02/08/2024

Difficulté

Very easy Très facile

Durée

1 minute(s) minute(s)

Coût

0.40 EUR (€)

Description

Here are a number of recipes, from the simplest to the most complex, for unblocking and maintaining your drains, so that you can find the one that suits you best. All the recipes are 100% natural, biodegradable and without health risks.

Sommaire

zerowaste, zéro déchet, biodégradable, canalisations

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Matériaux

White vinegar

Optional:

• Citric acid
• Baking soda

Outils

Optional: ice cube tray or egg carton for moulding pellets

Étape 1 - Description of ingredients

White vinegar, otherwise known as spirit vinegar, crystal. It is a 100% natural and biodegradable product with a pH between 3.5 and 5 (acid) with approximately 12% alcohol obtained by macerating an aqueous solution of at least 6% acetic acid (often from beet ethanol). It evaporates naturally without risk (except for a slight and temporary irritation of the throat and eyes if you are in a small space).

Cost: around 0.40€/L, prefer to buy in the food vinegar section (avoid the household section as it is often more expensive and flavoured).

Properties: More info and G culture here

• Degreaser,
• Deodoriser
• Preservative (thanks to the acid pH),
• Antiseptic, disinfectant, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antifungal (thanks to the acid pH)
• Descaler / anti-scale (the acid reacts with the limestone to make it disappear in an acid-base reaction causing heat and CO2 bubbles),
• Corrosive to limescale surfaces (can damage wood and plastic in high doses).

Sodium bicarbonate, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, monosodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, soda, baking soda or natrum bicarbonatum. A fine white powder similar to table salt or talc with a pH of 8-8.5 (base). Made from limestone and salt, bicarbonate is naturally present in the body and is harmless to health. It does not emit fumes or evaporate.

Properties: cleans, scours and deodorises. It dissolves grease and proteins responsible for stains. It prevents the proliferation of bacteria and softens hard water. <Cost: ~3-4 euros/kg

Here we'll be using household bicarbonate (cheaper than baking soda, but if you only have baking soda for food or cosmetics on hand it works very well).

Be careful to use the correct type of bicarbonate for each use: for cosmetic use, use only food/cosmetic bicarbonate and for food use, use ONLY food grade bicarbonate

.

Citric acid: white powder similar to salt or liquid (diluted), 100% natural and biodegradable. It is made from molasses (sugar cane fermentation) and a microscopic fungus. Properties: anti-scale, powerful descaler, cleans and dissolves white deposits. It's also a fantastic antioxidant. <Price: ~ €2/kg or ~€6/L

Étape 2 - Light descaling and drain maintenance

For light descaling (or with a little patience), white vinegar is enough on its own!

Pour a little vinegar into the drain or toilet bowl. Scrub if possible, then leave for 30 minutes or overnight (the longer you leave it on, the better). Try scrubbing again, then pour in water and flush.

Benefits: the pH helps to disinfect the brush at the same time, and once the vinegar smell has evaporated unpleasant drain smells have disappeared.

Étape 3 - Extensive descaling and unblocking of pipes

If your toilet is very scaly (black film that doesn't come off when you scrub or with the previous step) or your pipes are blocked, you can try this recipe:

Mix in an airtight jar:

· 130g (60%) bicarbonate of soda

· 30g (40%) citric acid POWDER (otherwise immediate reaction)

If you want to use pellets, just use an ice cube tray or an egg carton as a mould and bind the powders with a little liquid soap or a few drops of water (be careful not to make the product react)

.

Use a lozenge or about 2 tablespoons of powder, leave on for 30 minutes to one night, then scrub if possible before washing off with water.

Notes et références

In my experience, white vinegar is sufficient on its own in most cases when you can leave it to act and scrub. In the case of blocked drains, if possible, first try to unblock the blockage with a plunger, or even remove the blockage (e.g. frozen coconut oil) by unscrewing the drain.

If you ever want to mix bicarbonate and vinegar, or any other acid and base (e.g. soda, percarbonate with citric acid, lemon and other acids) in another recipe, make sure you do it in a well-ventilated room and, above all, don't close the bottle/can, otherwise it will explode in your face. The explosion can be very strong, even in a large container.

To replace industrial disinfectants such as bleach, you can use pure white vinegar (for surfaces that can withstand it).

Important: NEVER mix vinegar and bleach, as this produces a toxic gas (chlorine) that can cause severe irritation to the respiratory tract, and in the most serious cases, even make you faint. https://www.centreantipoisons.be/produits-m-nagers/eau-de-javel

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