A slow drain always picks the worst moment, like the morning of a full guesthouse breakfast or the day before visitors arrive. Used correctly, caustic soda for drains clears the grease and fat behind most stubborn blockages. If you know it as seep soda, you’re in the right place. Soapreme Drain Cleaner Caustic Soda is sold in 500 g, 1 kg and 5 kg packs for homes, guesthouses, hotels and maintenance teams. By the end of this article you’ll know:
- How to use it safely in a blocked drain
- What you must never mix it with
- Why it doesn’t belong in toilets or pit toilets, and how to protect a septic tank
- How to keep pit, septic and portable toilets fresh between blockages
- When to stop and call a plumber
Soapreme manufactures and distributes cleaning products across South Africa, so these tips come from people who work with these products every day.
What Is Caustic Soda (Seep Soda)?
Caustic soda is the common name for sodium hydroxide. In Afrikaans, it’s seep soda (also written seepsoda). It breaks down fats, grease, hair and food waste, which are the usual culprits in blocked pipes. That strength is also why it needs respect. It can cause serious burns to skin and eyes, so treat every pack as a hazardous product.
Gear to Put On Before You Start
- Rubber or chemical-resistant gloves
- Safety glasses or goggles
- Long sleeves and closed shoes
- An open window or door for fresh air
Step-by-Step: Using Caustic Soda for Drains
Follow the directions on your Soapreme Drain Cleaner Caustic Soda pack:
- Clear the sludge and dirt from the drain.
- Add a small amount of hot water into the drain.
- Add 4 heaped tablespoons of Drain Cleaner Caustic Soda into the drain.
- Wait 10 to 15 minutes.
- Flush slowly with hot water until the drain runs clear. Repeat if necessary.
If the blockage still won’t clear, a deep blockage may need a drain auger or a plumber. Strong chemicals can also be hard on older or plastic pipes.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Caustic Soda in a Toilet
Don’t use caustic soda in the toilet. It’s very dangerous, for a few reasons:
- Splash-back: Plunging or stirring a bowl of caustic water can throw it onto your skin and eyes.
- Heat: The heat it gives off can crack the porcelain.
- Seal damage: It can wear down the wax seal at the base of the toilet, which can lead to leaks.
- It rarely works: The water in the bowl dilutes it, so it often never reaches the blockage.
For a blocked toilet, use a plunger or call a plumber. For regular toilet cleaning, use a product made for the job, such as Bio-Gen Enzyme Cleaning Liquid.
Pit Toilets and Septic Tanks: What to Know
Many homes and lodges rely on pit toilets or septic tanks. Both depend on helpful bacteria to break down waste, and strong cleaners can upset that balance.
- Pit toilets: Don’t use caustic soda in a pit toilet.
- Septic tanks: Small, diluted amounts of Drain Cleaner Caustic Soda reaching the tank through a drain are fine. Never add it directly into the tank. Afterwards, add Soapreme Enzyme Powder to restore and maintain the enzymes in your septic system. If you’re unsure, ask your septic service provider.
Everyday Care for Pit, Septic and Portable Toilets
Caustic soda is for clearing blockages, not for day-to-day upkeep. These products do that job better:
- Bio-Gen Enzyme Cleaning Liquid: Our best choice for cleaning pit toilets, portable toilets, showers, basins and drains that run into septic tank systems. It’s an earth-friendly, natural bathroom cleaning liquid that adds and activates enzymes in your septic tank, helping to maintain a healthy system. Use it undiluted in toilets and pit toilets.
- Soapreme Enzyme Powder: Helps break down waste and control odours naturally in pit toilets and septic tanks. It comes in 100 g and 1 kg packs. Add it as directed on the pack.
- Soapreme Portable Toilet Liquid: Not a cleaner. It contains formalin, which turns the waste in a portable toilet into a solid mass with no odour. That makes the waste container easy to empty and clear. Handy for events, farms and building sites.
What Never to Mix with Caustic Soda
This is the part to remember. Do not mix caustic soda with:
- Other drain openers
- Ammonia
- Toilet bowl cleaners
- Aluminium or galvanised items, such as aluminium pots or galvanised buckets
Mixing can cause splashing or release hazardous gases. Use it alone, rinse the drain well afterwards, and store the pack dry, sealed and out of children’s reach.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
- Skin: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse with plenty of water.
- Eyes: Rinse with water for at least 15 minutes and get medical help.
- Swallowed or breathed in: Get medical help immediately.
Keep the pack so the doctor can see what you used.
Get Caustic Soda for Drains from Soapreme
Ready to clear that blocked drain the safe way? Soapreme Drain Cleaner Caustic Soda comes in 500 g, 1 kg and 5 kg packs, so you can choose the right size for your home, guesthouse or hotel.
Looking after a pit toilet, septic tank or portable toilet as well? Pair it with Bio-Gen Enzyme Cleaning Liquid and Enzyme Powder for everyday upkeep, or Portable Toilet Liquid for portable units.
Not sure which products suit you? Contact the Soapreme team and we’ll point you in the right direction. Business customers can also ask about delivery, which is available for business orders with minimum order values.
