The products are sodium acetate, water, and . It is the rapid production of CO₂ bubbles that is theorized to dislodge clogs. In a confined drain, expanding gas can create localized pressure, potentially lifting or breaking up soft blockages.
Empirical tests (e.g., home improvement experiments published on This Old House and Consumer Reports blog) consistently show that baking soda and vinegar fail where a simple flange plunger succeeds. Even repeated applications (e.g., 1 cup baking soda followed by 2 cups vinegar, left for 30 minutes) produce only mild fizzing, often insufficient to move water past a clog. can baking soda and vinegar unclog a toilet
A standard toilet trap (the “S” bend) holds approximately 1–2 liters of water. When baking soda and vinegar react, most of the CO₂ escapes upward through the bowl’s open top rather than being directed downward into the clog. Unlike a closed pipe system, the toilet’s design lacks the necessary seal to build meaningful pressure. For gas to force a clog through the trap, the pressure must exceed the hydrostatic head of the standing water – an unlikely outcome given the open vent and bowl. The products are sodium acetate, water, and
CH₃COOH (aq) + NaHCO₃ (s) → CH₃COONa (aq) + H₂O (l) + CO₂ (g) Empirical tests (e
When combined, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and acetic acid (CH₃COOH) undergo an acid-base reaction: