apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We've got a vintage sink without a garbage disposal system, so clogged drains are an occasional problem. We've had to resort to using a drain cleaner once or twice when a plunger didn't work; baking soda and vinegar solution only work on the mildest of clogs.

I'm excited to see there might be a safer, non-toxic alternative. Drainbo Natural Drain Cleaner claims to use a formula of seven-strain bacteria (some of which are used to clean up oil spills in the ocean) that eats up waste food particles, fats and oils (but not hair) like a microbial Hometown Buffet, leaving drain lines clear and odor-free. One question remaining is how fast this solution works; I'm sure the bacteria need a bit of time to get their buffet on and clear up drains. But sounds like a great alternative if you've got a clogged drain, a little patience, and a preference for a non-chemical solution.