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UK Households Urged to Use Vinegar Mix to Keep Outdoor Drains Clear as Heavy Rain Triggers Flood Risk

Plumbing guides promote a low-cost baking soda with warm vinegar flush as a first step before using chemical cleaners.

Overview

  • Recent Met Office rain warnings and downpours have increased the chance that blocked outside drains cause garden or driveway flooding or foundation seepage.
  • Consumer reports cite Express guidance encouraging homeowners to pour vinegar into drains to maintain flow without relying on costly cleaners.
  • Plumbcare’s method calls for two parts baking soda mixed with one part salt, followed by warmed vinegar, a 15-minute wait, then a hot-water flush.
  • Wolseley notes that outside drains handle domestic waste and debris such as leaves, making blockages common yet often manageable as DIY tasks.
  • Preventive steps include keeping cooking grease and coffee grounds out of sinks and fitting grates or plughole filters to catch garden debris and hair.