topic Re: Drain cleaner.... in Home

Drain cleaner....

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:02:54 GMT

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good drain cleaner?

I do the vinegar and baking soda on occasion but I need to purchase something....the drain in my husband's bathroom is....s l o w........

I don't like using that stuff but I need to do something, thanks.

Re: Drain cleaner....

Kachina624 — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:16:04 GMT

I bought a product on Amazon which is better than any chemical drain cleaner if hair is the problem. They are long strips of plastic with barbs on them. You thread them into the drain, then pull them out. All the gunk comes out with them and you throw the whole mess away.

Re: Drain cleaner....

lolakimono — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:15:39 GMT

@Mom2Dogs

I first do the vinegar/baking soda combination, then I close the drain and let it rest for several minutes.

In the meantime, I use a kettle to bring hot water and a few drops of blue Dawn up to a high temp (not boiling) and then I open the drain and "chase" the vinegar/baking soda with the hot water and Dawn. That seems to do the trick, but you might need to repeat the steps. I also use a plunger sometimes after doing that if I find that the drain is still slow. It is not a hair problem, but rather a "black gunk" problem in my case.

Re: Drain cleaner....

sammybs — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:23:32 GMT

Hair and Grease opener. I leave it in overnite or 8 hours. Just discovered it at Home Depot. It is in a black jug in a bag. Very strong stuff, has lye in it. Nothing worked, but this stuff. LOVE IT!!!!! I tried to go natural did not work and Nothing at the market worked.

Re: Drain cleaner....

fthunt — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:23:39 GMT

QVC sells - or did - a great one - Green Globber. I have a rental with a tub drain that puzzled everybody. I gave a box of GG to the tenant, he followed directions and it's never been a problem since. So many young gals have long long hair and tub drains always act up first.

Re: Drain cleaner....

fthunt — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:27:39 GMT

A P.S. Just read another poster - about a product with lye. My plumber says....never use lye, it will eat your pipes! The Green Gobbler is safe - gentle and will not harm your plumbing.

Another idea - my dog hair plugged my drain before knowing about GG, so I had the plumber come and snake out the line.

Lye is an absolute no - no - no! (you'll be sorry)

Re: Drain cleaner....

sandraskates — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:53:12 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I bought a product on Amazon which is better than any chemical drain cleaner if hair is the problem. They are long strips of plastic with barbs on them. You thread them into the drain, then pull them out. All the gunk comes out with them and you throw the whole mess away.

I've seen these at Home Depot too.

I do something similar - I have a long sewing bodkin. It has a tiny latch hook at the end. I open the latch hook and dip it down the drain; the hook closes as I bring it back up - sometimes with the most disgusting combination of hair and gunk attached.

Re: Drain cleaner....

Gram W — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:57:21 GMT

@Kachina624. Thank you. I have long hair and I could use this tool. I will tell my kids also as the DILs have thick long hair. Maybe a good stocking stuffer. I try to find small unusual items for the stockings. Of course an orange goes in the toes first.

Re: Drain cleaner....

henderson — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 00:03:24 GMT

Purchased Drain Made by BioSmart from our plumber. It's amazing. Expensive, but worth it. I think you can order online. Don't ever use Drano, etc. -- not recommended by plumbers.

Re: Drain cleaner....

SeaMaiden — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 00:10:59 GMT

@henderson wrote:
Purchased Drain Made by BioSmart from our plumber. It's amazing. Expensive, but worth it. I think you can order online. Don't ever use Drano, etc. -- not recommended by plumbers.

Why is Draino a no no? It says in the container will not hurt pipes?

Re: Drain cleaner....

SilleeMee — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 00:16:15 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I bought a product on Amazon which is better than any chemical drain cleaner if hair is the problem. They are long strips of plastic with barbs on them. You thread them into the drain, then pull them out. All the gunk comes out with them and you throw the whole mess away.

EEuuww...I don't even want to be in the same room when those are pulled out....icky

Re: Drain cleaner....

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 00:29:08 GMT

Thanks everyone... I knew these boards wouldn't let me down!!

Re: Drain cleaner....

momtochloe — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 01:32:50 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
I bought a product on Amazon which is better than any chemical drain cleaner if hair is the problem. They are long strips of plastic with barbs on them. You thread them into the drain, then pull them out. All the gunk comes out with them and you throw the whole mess away.

EEuuww...I don't even want to be in the same room when those are pulled out....icky

Tee hee @SilleeMee it's gross but it's worth it and after you do it once or twice it's amazing how little you dredge up at least at my house as I am now scrupulous in trying to ensure no hair goes down the drain . . .

Re: Drain cleaner....

RedTop — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 01:46:10 GMT

Both daughters have long hair that I am constantly swiffering off the floor, and pulling out of the drain. Luckily, we are able to access the trap from our bathtub drain in the basement, to make clean out a quick and easy job.

It is much better to manually clear hair clogs from the drain instead of using caustic chemicals like Drano or lye that get hot when mixed with water, and often do more damage than good. If these chemicals don't work and you have to call a plumber, ALWAYS show them what you have put in the drain, so they can protect their eyes and skin from possible splashes of whatever is standing in the drain.

The only thing I ever pour into my drain is peroxide which gets rid of odor and black soap scum, followed by a cup of salt and a pot of boiling hot water. We have never experienced a clogged drain in the 41 years we've lived on this property.

Re: Drain cleaner....

Desertdi — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 01:55:34 GMT

Target's house brand works for me

Re: Drain cleaner....

software — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 13:08:24 GMT

Nothing wrong with using lye responsibly.

If you are on municipal water, there is a small amount of lye injected to keep the pipes clean.

I buy "main line" liquid cleaner at Walmart in the plumbing aisle. I use a small amount in all the drains monthly. I've done it for many years with no problems.

I also use strainers in all my sinks, bathtubs etc to cut down on stuff getting into the drain.

Re: Drain cleaner....

Tigriss — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 14:28:53 GMT

@momtochloe Are the Vastar cleaners thin? I got one of those with the brush thing at the end but it wouldn't fit my shower drain cover. Is this one thing and flat?

Re: Drain cleaner....

momtochloe — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 14:33:02 GMT

@Tigriss wrote:
@momtochloe Are the Vastar cleaners thin? I got one of those with the brush thing at the end but it wouldn't fit my shower drain cover. Is this one thing and flat?

@Tigriss yes they are thin and flexible and fit in all my drains comfortably but I don't believe it would work if your drain is like this:

If you have any other questions just let me know as I know this can be tricky to describe . . .

Re: Drain cleaner....

momoftwo2007 — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 14:55:57 GMT

Agreeing with the other posters about Green Gobbler. All you have to do is empty the packet into the drain, use a little bit of hot water to desolve it, wait 15 minutes, then dump a big pot of hot water into the drain. It will release an stinky odor (not because of the Green Gobbler, but whatever it was in your drain).

I use it in my drain periodically to clear it out.

Re: Drain cleaner....

Tigriss — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 15:05:16 GMT

@momtochloe Thanks! Mine is a fixed grate with slits not holes, but the concept is the same. It is such a pain. I don't want to use chemicals because I have a septic tank and want to maintain the health of the tank. I may try the Green Gobbler since it is more friendly.