Everyday miser: How I accidentally repaired the plumbing in a historic San Francisco hotel

In the three decades since I started Debt-Proof Living (formerly known as Cheapskate Monthly Newsletter), I’ve racked up more than 1.4 million air miles on book tours, speaking engagements, and on TV and radio. It’s been a blast and I’ve loved every minute of it.

The year was 1998. I was in San Francisco, getting ready to appear on a local television show. The producer had asked me to bring some props to demonstrate the tips I shared in my monthly newsletter. So I checked into one of those fancy historic hotels downtown and headed to a discount warehouse to buy the largest quantities of baking soda, white vinegar, and several other necessary items I could find. I figured that transporting these items on a plane would be a nightmare, so it made sense to buy them locally.

Once back in my hotel room, I realized I only needed the product containers as props for the show. So, in a stroke of genius, I decided to do some work and throw the contents away. I flushed the contents of the baking soda packet down the toilet, waited a bit, then flushed it with a quart of white vinegar. It felt oddly satisfying. Next, I emptied the salt into a plastic bag, threw it in the trash, and poured a quart of rubbing alcohol into the sink. Done and done. Feeling pretty clever, I packed up the now empty props and headed out to dinner.

Hours later, I returned to my room and was ready to relax in front of the TV. Then, out of the blue, I heard this terrifying rush of water. I ran to the bathroom and just in time saw the water shoot out of the toilet like a geyser and stop just short of the ceiling. I stood there, frozen in horror. When the water finally stopped, a horrible smell filled the room. All the sewer gases under San Francisco had decided to pay me a visit. In a panic, I ran into the hallway and joined a crowd of other hotel guests, all in various states of nightwear, gasping for air and covering their faces.

The hotel technician came, took one look and started laughing. Apparently I had solved the problem that had been clogging the hotel’s pipes for ages. Despite the mess, there was no permanent damage. In fact, I’d like to think I did them a huge favor. (You have no idea how big!)

So here’s the moral of the story and a good household tip: To unclog a clogged drain or just keep it unclogged, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Watch it fizz and fizz. Let it sit for a few hours or, better yet, overnight. Then flush it through with a large pot or bucket of hot water. Be careful using hot water in porcelain sinks; you don’t want to break anything. For old pipes, halve the amount.

And so, my friends, keep your drains clear and your travels interesting.