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Here's a cheap, eco-friendly fix for a slow-moving drain

Before you call a plumber, try our easy tip for unclogging a drain using only hot water, baking soda and vinegar.
/ Source: TODAY

Got a slow-moving drain on your hands? Between the dirt, gunk and soap that swirls down our sink drains daily, the pipes are, understandably, bound to suffer and start acting a bit sluggish from time to time.

Thankfully, we've found an effective remedy that requires nothing more than three very simple ingredients — hot water, baking soda and white vinegar. What's more, this quick fix may save you from placing an emergency call to a plumber, and it costs a lot less, too!

Here's how to unclog a slow-moving drain without calling a plumber:

Step 1: Boil a kettle of water

Once that puppy is whistling, pour your pot of boiling water down the drain. (If your home is archaic, try using very hot water to start, as boiling water can be hard on old pipes.)

Step 2: Grab the baking soda

Put 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain and let it sit for a few minutes.

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Step 3: Add 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of very hot water

Pour this liquid mixture on top of the baking soda that's in the sink. This will loosen and flush away any grimy sludge.

Step 4: Cover the drain with a plug and let it sit for 10 minutes

Don't forget to set the timer!

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Step 5. Boil one more kettle of water

Pour this second pot of boiling water in the sink to rinse everything away. And you're done!