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Cleaning Up:  My drain ain't draining!  |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 07 2005 : 9:04:29 PM
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My bathroom sink is draining reeeaaaally slowly. I don't want to buy those harsh smelling, strong chemical drain cleaner. Yuck. 
Is there a natural drain cleaner? Please help!
Cat |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2005 : 9:21:21 PM
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First, have you removed the trap beneath the sink and tried to get out hair (usually the problem at my house) and yuck?
OR...pour about a half cup of baking soda followed by a vinegar chaser (this will foam; remember the school volcano projects?). Follow this with boiling water. Repeat until clear. Do this once a month to keep things flowing.
Good luck.
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2005 : 9:56:27 PM
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Hm. Tried the baking soda with the vinegar followed by the boiling water. It's running clear, just reeeeaaaaally slow....
Trap? Is that the bit before the loop under the sink? If that's the case, I need to find a wrench!
Cat |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2005 : 01:40:45 AM
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Citycat, the 'trap' is the U shaped pipe under the sink. It's called the trap because water sits in this area and keeps the sewage gases from rising back up and escaping into your bathroom. It is often a problem area for catching hair and anything that falls into the sink. It is a yucky thing, particularly if you've not done it before. So don't be all grossed out and walk away after you've taken the pipe apart. It needs to be cleaned out (have a bucket handy & a scraping tool of some kind - like an old knife maybe) and put back together ASAP. It's a piece of cake, really! And pretty soon you'll be saying TAWANDA just like all us other plumber fixer girls do. Do a search for PLUMBING and you'll see another post where we've been discussing such issues. Good luck!
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2005 : 05:35:56 AM
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| Definitely wear gloves and put a bucket under the trap! I can't tell you how many times my husband or myself thought an old drain hadn't been used in so long it should be dry, only to remove the p-trap and get covered in foul-smelling black goo! UGHHHHHH. Easiest just to be able to drop the trap into a bucket!! |
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WisGal35
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Cathy
Kenosha County
WI
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2005 : 2:12:10 PM
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Ahh, farmgirl plumbing...If you have or can borrow one, sometimes a manual plumbing snake will do the trick to get things flowing down the drain w/out having to break out a wrench. My DH's dad was a big believer in wire hangers, in a pinch :)
Once you get that yucky trap cleared out, try this old-timey trick a neighbor passed on to me -- three or four times a year, dump a pack of yeast down your drains. The yeast apparently helps eat away at all of that grungy stuff, and as a bonus, if you have a septic tank, will help keep that functioning properly, too. |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2005 : 5:11:51 PM
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Well, I can't get the trap off. It's on there good. I will try to get one of the nice boys downstairs to try and manhandle the thing, but I may have to get the landlord to do this one. Thanks for all the advice. I tried the wire hanger, but I can't get it to curve enough into the trap to be any good. sigh.
Cat |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2005 : 4:25:33 PM
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Well, with some effort, and asking everyone I know for the right tools, I was able to remove the trap. Here's the kicker: the trap was clean. There was a bobbypin, bits of wire from a previous cleaning attempt, and some sand, but really nothing else. Well, I screwed the trap back on, turned the water on, and low and behold! sloooooooooooooooooowly draining.
So people, now what do I do?
Cat |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2005 : 4:55:46 PM
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I think it's time to call the building manager. It must be something further along down the pipe, in which case, a bigger "case". Good luck. 
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2005 : 2:53:14 PM
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Cat
One of the things we do at our house is suck out the drain with a shop vac. It works well if you have one or have access to one.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
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Farmer Macleigh
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Tennessee
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Oct 23 2005 : 07:34:29 AM
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Bless you all (and sorry, Cat, that you had to be the catalyst!) for your suggestions. I'm off to rescue a bathtub drain! :)
Hope sustains the farmer. -- Old Proverb |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2005 : 5:38:26 PM
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This happened a while ago, but here's my drain update: I called my landlord, he came and fixed it. It took him all afternoon as the job bloomed from just using a plumbing snake to removing the piping and installing new ones. There was sooooo much buildup in the pipe, it was no wonder the water wasn't flowing! It was really gross. And the poor guys who lived in the apartment below me: they had some evil smelling black liquid leak through their ceiling while the repairs were being done! Well, the water flows well now. Thanks for all the advice. I know just who to contact when something goes wrong!
Cat |
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JO AND AL
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Jocelyn
parrsboro
nova scotia
Canada
235 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2006 : 06:59:55 AM
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 good to know a bit about plumbing with no man around, lol! who needs a man?? my drain was leaking the other day and i had to use a pipe wrench was bigger then me, but with a bit of help on what to get to replace it, it is fine now, it was rusted through. my son was here and took it apart, and it is soooo easy to put back together once u have the part! lol! i am learning alot of new home repair tricks with my husband gone. i wonder if he's fixing his new girlfriends place tee hee! (the u know what) oh!! i see the power truck coming to read the meter., bills bills bills, never ends does it.? by for now girls jo~
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2006 : 09:04:34 AM
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After you do have it clean (I recommend all methods already given) I also recommend pouring coffee grounds down all sinks in your house once a week. I never get a clogged sink and I have always done this.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
blog: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com |
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JO AND AL
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Jocelyn
parrsboro
nova scotia
Canada
235 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2006 : 4:10:20 PM
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tasha what does the coffee grounds do? i pour mine down sometimes, but then i usually save the most of them for the composter!jo~
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2006 : 4:40:04 PM
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One more thing to try ladies and I never have had problems after this-
get some good old Red Devil lye from the store and dup it down the drain. Wear goggles and gloves for safetly but then run water down the pipes. Even though it says not to- I am bad and I run hot water down the pipes. (This is bad because sometimes it can cause a volcanic type eruption that could splatter you with caustic lye which is really bad)
But I have never had a problem with the hot water and have never been injured by the lye. You can also go the safe route and follow the directions on the package- which I highly recommend (unless you have a certain knack for avoiding horrible accidents like I do ) :) |
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babs
True Blue Farmgirl
226 Posts
Babette
MN
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - Oct 26 2006 : 5:12:27 PM
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Coffee grounds down your sink will plug your sink. If you do this and haven't had a clogged sink, I think you've been very lucky. Google it and find me a link that says this is a good idea. What I did find was lots of mention about keeping a few grounds near your sink to help deoderize your hands.
From Heloise:
Spread them over flower beds containing acid-loving plants such as azaleas and rhododendrons.
Put dry grounds into an old margarine tub with holes poked in the lid. Place the tub in the refrigerator to absorb odors.
Keep grounds in a can near the sink. Rub a small amount over your hands after peeling onions, chopping garlic or handling fish to get rid of the odor.
Babs |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Oct 26 2006 : 5:28:30 PM
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also.....I did say in my original post that it should be done after the drain is cleaned, as it is a preventative measure to keep your drains clean. Like I said, I don't get clogged drains and I have done this for years, as did my mom...once a week. no clogs.
Oh and to add: I also use them around sunflowers and tomatos as they keep ants off of the new shoots and I use them until the stalks are nice and big before they start flowering.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
blog: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com |
Edited by - GaiasRose on Oct 26 2006 5:32:51 PM |
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Norskema
True Blue Farmgirl
98 Posts
Candace
Central Indiana Area
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2006 : 5:53:02 PM
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HA!!! Who knew?? What great tips. Thanks for the link. I love the idea there about using the dried grounds as a sweeping compound. I'm done tossing my coffee grounds. Thanks GaiasRose!
I have a question about the lye issue suggestion by (maybe) Alee. What will the lye do to a septic system? We are buying a reeeeeeally run-down house that is going to have a lot of work done. The pipes are galvanized which means they are beginning to close up. We're having the plumbing replaced but wondered if something like that would clear out some of the gunk on the drain pipes in the meantime. BUT I don't want to do something to compromise the septic system.
Thanks!
Every way of a man seems right to himself but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Proverbs 21:2 |
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missymagoo
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
sue
williamsburg
ohio
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - Jun 06 2007 : 6:32:48 PM
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| i used baking soda and vinegar but i used apple instead of white vinegar. does that makes a diffrenence? it did not really work out. sue |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 07 2007 : 11:59:52 AM
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I think the straight white vinegar might work better. I think it is a bit stronger than the apple cider vinegar.
Alee |
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Jana
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Jana
Eau Claire
Wisconsin
USA
482 Posts |
Posted - Jun 13 2007 : 5:10:21 PM
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Well, both types of vinegar are 5% acidic, so I don't think it probably makes a difference, just that the white is from grain and the cidar from apples. Anyway, I would do the vinegar and soda thing every day for maybe 5 days and then see where you're at. Use a LOT of boiling water after each time, like a kettle full. I was able to clear up a couple of slow drains that way. Of course having the 2 long-haired daughters move out of the house helped, too! LOL!
Jana |
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Sarah Blue
True Blue Farmgirl
172 Posts
Sierra Mountains
California
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 11:43:30 AM
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It was funny that this post came out at the exact time our kitchen sink clogged. I'm always telling DBF not to let little chunks of things go down the drain and he finally learned the hard way why I'm always nagging about that.
We tried a lot of things to unclog it ourselves. Couldn't snake it because of twists and turns behind the wall. Drain openers didn't work. A can of Co2 claiming to "clear clogs in 3 seconds" didn't work, and neither did straight lye. Our pipes are old and it's not good to start taking things apart. We didn't know what else to do.
I mentioned it to my mom and she says, "Do you have a vent (pipe) leading to your roof over the kitchen? Sometimes those get clogged." I called DBF immediately from my mom's house and he walked outside and saw that yes, we do have a vent. He got on the roof with the snake, and the vent wasn't clogged, but he was able to get clear access to the area of pipe he couldn't reach any other way. After a week of stressing, he got it unclogged in about 5 minutes!
We are now washing dishes with joy :) (And DBF thinks my mom is so smart. She is a closet farmgirl!)
"i believe in god, only i spell it nature." - frank lloyd wright
http://www.myspace.com/svgrrrl |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 4:10:27 PM
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Sarah-
I love your story! Isn't it great when the DBF really appreciates a tidbit from our moms? I am so glad your mom's advice helped! I will have to keep that in mind the next time our drain runs slow!
Alee
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Cleaning Up: My drain ain't draining! |
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My drain ain't draining!
