If you use regular soap, you can expect your drains to get clogged. However, if you use homemade soap, will the problem persist? Could making your own soap help you finally get rid of the white foam that’s been bothering you?
Like regular soap, homemade soap clogs your drains. It’s even more likely if you’re using hard water. Soap scum forms when soapy water mixes with hard water. As a result, mildew and mold growth, further aggravating the clogging problem while also posing a serious health risk to the pipes and drains.
Your drains may become clogged from time to time if you do not have a water softener installed. Hair (at least my wife’s hair, since mine are lost in space) is usually the root of the problem. Soap, on the other hand, maybe to blame. Soap scum forms when soap and hard water are combined.
Your drains will become clogged as a result of the mildew and mold that is attracted to the white foam. It may not solve your problem, but what if you switched to homemade soap? Unfortunately, this is also true for homemade soap, whether it’s soft soap or another variety. Using synthetic soap or gel soap may help to reduce your risk.
However, depending on the formulation, these kinds of soaps can be quite harsh on your skin, so I prefer to stay away from them altogether. Trying to stop it is your only option. There isn’t any soap on the market right now that doesn’t contribute to this issue.
Because prevention is the only option, here are some methods for clearing clogged drains that I’ll discuss further in this article.
How do you remove soap buildup from drain pipes?
There are several simple ways to remove built-up soap scum from a clogged drain if you are certain it is the cause of the clogging.
Boiling water
The simplest and most cost-effective solution is to simply use boiling water. Pour boiling water down the drain to clear the clog. Soap scum that has accumulated on the drain will be washed away as the water circulates. Continue boiling water after you’ve poured it all out. The use of chemicals, which could damage your pipes over time, is not necessary with this method.
Using Baking Soda
Baking soda can be a simple solution if boiling water hasn’t worked for you after several tries. As a bonus, baking soda also works wonders on soap scum buildup in the sink. To begin, pour a cup of baking soda and a gallon of water down the drain.
Attempting again with one teaspoon of baking soda and only a quarter of a gallon may help if the first time didn’t work. Do not exceed 2 tsp of baking soda per day. Just wait one day before trying it again in case your first two attempts were unsuccessful. Too much usage in a short period of time can lead to pipe damage.
Even if that doesn’t work, you can try adding vinegar to the mix to see if that helps. Dispose of the vinegar and baking soda mixture immediately by pouring them down the drain in the same proportions. The hair and dirt in your drain won’t be a problem any longer thanks to this trick!
Once it’s been poured, give it an hour or two to sit before using. Prepare some water and pour it again the next day to flush everything out.
Ammonia
You could try pouring some ammonia if the first two methods didn’t work for you. Pour the ammonia first, and then run hot water over the area for several minutes afterward. Open a window or turn on a fan if necessary because the ammonia’s odor can be overpowering.
Word of caution: If you’ve previously used vinegar as a cleaning agent, wait until the next day before switching to ammonia. You can get poisoned if these two ingredients are combined.
Bacterial drain cleaners
Soap scum is an easy target for bacterial drain cleaners because bacteria thrive in the presence of soap. They do not, however, work well in any other situation. It’s best to avoid doing this unless you’re certain the buildup is nothing more than scum from the soap.
For now, let’s just say it is. There is no danger in using bacterial drain cleaners because they are completely safe and do no harm to your pipes in any way! A combination of bacteria and enzymes in the formula naturally breaks down the soap scum during the cleaning process.
As an example, consider the following scenario: If you don’t have much time, let it sit for a few hours after mixing warm water with a scoop of the cleaner and pouring it down the drain.
It’s as simple as running hot water the following morning. There are a variety of products available, so it may take three nights of treatments before you see the best results. However, you may be able to eliminate your problem with just one treatment.
Commercial drain cleaning products.
While these cleaning agents may do the job, they are inherently caustic, and repeated use may result in damage to your plumbing pipes. As a result, it’s the worst choice. For the time being, however, I’d be fine with using it once, but only if none of the other options worked.
If all else fails, you can always hire a specialist to help you resolve your issue.
How to prevent soap scum.
Scum on the shower or bathtub drain? To avoid this in the first place would be preferable.
In the event that you can stop or at least slow the accumulation. At this point, the odds are in your favor.
Here’s how to go about doing it this way.
With the aid of a mesh trap
This is probably the simplest and most cost-effective option available to you right this second. Did you know that mesh traps are excellent at catching soap scum as well? This item can be used in a sink, shower, or bathtub drain in addition to those areas. I urge you to purchase them because it will prove to be a wise decision.
Your drain is not garbage disposal:
You’d be surprised at what some people put down the drain, even if it seems obvious. In some cases, people throw things down the drain without thinking about how they’ll get stuck. Anything you put in your sink that isn’t supposed to be there could end up getting stuck in the soap scum and making it worse.
However, just because a mesh trap will catch most things, doesn’t mean you should put anything in it. Dispose of grease and scraps from the kitchen before you begin doing the dishes or placing them in the sink for washing.
In spite of the fact that they’re liquid, paint and solvents are just as dangerous as any other substance. In addition to being bad for your plumbing, they pollute the environment.
Bacterial drain cleaners:
Drain cleaners with bacteria are a great option for removing soap scum, but you can also use this product once a month to keep your drains clean. Instead of doing it every month, how about just doing it once? Every two to three months is a good rule of thumb. If you’re good to your drain, it might be sufficient.
Water softener:
Whether or not you end up in a hard water area is determined by where you live in the country. As a result, your chances of having clogged drains are significantly increased. One of the best investments you can make is in a water softener if you can afford it.
As a bonus, it increases the lifespan of your plumbing system while softening the water at the same time! Even though it’s not the most popular choice, it’s the best one available.
Water softeners use salt or potassium chloride to remove the calcium, magnesium, and other metal cations that are present in hard water. If you’re considering purchasing one or are just curious, take a look at the demonstration video below.
Conclusion
If you are using hard water, soap scum will still be an issue when switching to hand-made soap. A water softener coupled with a mesh catcher would be your best bet for combating it. Instead of purchasing an expensive water softener, you will use any method to remove the sediment.
