Drain clogs

RustBeltCowgirl

I need to add a preventative method tomy weekly list to deal with clogs in the kitchen sink drains. Anybody got "sure fire" ways?

And since I'm talking clog, anybody else find the Geico commercial amusing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Hi7NzFEOI

Annie Kate

Hi @RustBeltCowgirl I find that if I use a strainer to keep out solids I hardly have any clogs. And, of course, I never pour oil/fat down the drain--I sponge that up with paper toweling and put it into the garbage. We have bought draino in the last decade, but only for homeschool science experiments. The few kitchen drain clogs we have had I treated with boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar.

shllnzl

I have bathroom sinks that seem to develop a smell from time to time. I am preparing to order the following product from Gardens Alive. I already use the tablets for our septic system at the cabin.

https://www.gardensalive.com/product/flow-trade-biomaintenance-tablets-for-toilets-sump-pumps-1

dipat2005

@RustBeltCowgirl I have used vinegar and baking soda and on occasion a plunger.

Lisa K

I am not a fan of caustic solutions (I really stay clear of those that say wear gloves!); however, there are products out there that are enzymes and one of the makers is Drano.

SuperC

If I’d drain fat or oil, there would be a bowl underneath the strainer so it does not go down the drain. That would be a clogging mess! I’ve used coffee grain and fresh lemon peels to unclog a drain and the lemon is a good freshener.

kbmbillups1

@shllnzl I've ordered those tablets a couple years ago and the liquid as well. We've had the same issue with a bad smell. I'm not sure if it helped or not. Our friend is a pumper told us that the smell is from our septic tank and it comes back through the pipes if we haven't used a tub or sink for a while. So, we make sure to turn the water on once a week to fill the elbow. It seems to help a lot.

As far so unclogging drains we use those white plastic stick things with the spikes on it to get hair and other stuff my daughters let go down the drain. My husband pulled bobby pins up the last time along with hair!

nksunshine27

ive found that wiping off plates and i wipe out pans. ive also changed dish soap. also use vinegar and baking soda n my drain periodically

karenjanicki

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/886278#Comment_886278

That works pretty well. I also have one of those small plastic snakes that works pretty well for the tub.

shllnzl

Hydrogen peroxide has some positive effects on bathroom drains, but the results don't last long.