Well, you got me to thinking! The classic hint is baking soda and vinegar, but I went “hmmm”: vinegar — acetic acid; lemon juice — citric acid. So I gave it a Heloise test.

I put a small amount of baking soda in a clear glass, added lemon juice and voilá! It foamed like crazy! So, if you don’t like the smell of vinegar, lemon juice is the solution.

To begin, put about half a cup of baking soda down the drain and immediately follow it with a cup or two of cheap household vinegar or lemon juice. Watch the fizz! Once the fizzing has slowed, rinse the drain well using plenty of hot water, then follow a minute or so later with cold water.

Don’t let it sit overnight — you must flush the drain with water. And that’s all there is to it — a fresh-smelling and clean drain! This is a great way to keep your drain smelling fresh, but it DOES NOT remove a clog from a drain! You know, baking soda and vinegar are two of the best and cheapest cleaners to have on your pantry shelves. Not sure how to save money by using them around the housefi Send for my six-page pamphlets of helpful uses and hints. To receive a copy of each pamphlet, please send $8 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (83 cents) envelope to: Heloise/V&B, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. — Heloise

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C2.