That sounds like a fantastic discovery! It’s amazing how often a simple, inexpensive solution can outperform complicated, expensive products or services.
Since you’ve forgotten the specific method, the “cheap remedy for the most difficult blockages” that plumbers often recommend is usually one of the following simple, yet highly effective, combinations:
The Plumber’s Secret (The Simple Fix)
- Baking Soda ($\text{NaHCO}_3$) and Vinegar ($\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}$):
- The Remedy: Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed immediately by 1 cup of white vinegar.
- Why it Works: The two ingredients cause a rapid chemical reaction, creating a fizzy, foamy eruption.1 This foam is powerful enough to mechanically scrub and loosen lighter, sticky blockages (like soap scum and hair buildup) from the pipe walls.
- Application: Let it sit for $\mathbf{30}$ minutes to an hour (or even overnight), then follow up with a large pot of very hot (but not boiling) water to flush everything away.
- Boiling Water and Dish Soap:
- The Remedy: Pour a generous squirt of liquid dish soap (a degreaser) down the drain. Wait a few minutes, then slowly pour a kettle of very hot water (just below boiling) directly into the drain opening.
- Why it Works: This is the best solution for blockages caused by grease or fat. The dish soap cuts through the fat, and the hot water melts it, allowing the residue to flow freely.
It’s likely one of these classic, non-toxic, and incredibly cheap methods solved your problem, letting you skip the expensive chemical drain cleaners and the plumber’s bill!
Which drain was it (kitchen or bathroom)? Knowing that might narrow down which remedy was the most effective!