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2012-12-06 12:45 PM

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Master
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Just South of Boston
Subject: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
The 3 ladies in my house (wife & 2 daughters) have managed to jam up both sinks in one of the bathrooms at our house. Rather than take my usual approach of removing the stopper & "U" drain plug and snaking the block out, anyone have an eaiser way to do this, or tried any 'clog buster' type product recently that actually worked? I don't mind the manual solution way, but if someone has an easier way to do it I'm all ears. The plug is usually hair, if that matters.


2012-12-06 12:49 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Elite
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Puyallup, WA
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

I am not a plumbing expert...but my mom gave me one of thses and it's pretty nice to have. Nice and small and it even fits into our shower drain/grate thing...

Turbo Snake 

2012-12-06 12:49 PM
in reply to: #4524820

Iron Donkey
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, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

Found this (there is a commercial that appears first and can't skip):
http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-6706989.html

Part 2 is to have them shave their hair off.

2012-12-06 12:51 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Expert
3126
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Boise, ID
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

 http://www.homedepot.com/Cleaning-Drain-Openers/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbri8/R-203634552/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UMDotoPIXMs

Just bought one of these type deals from home depot. Cost about $1.75 but it had teeth all up and down it. Think it was called a Zip Strip or something.

Worked pretty well on the shower drain. 



Edited by Aarondb4 2012-12-06 12:55 PM
2012-12-06 12:58 PM
in reply to: #4524842

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

Have you ever used liquid plumber or something similar?

I was shocked how it performed as claimed.  I tended to take the trap out myself.

 

Icky story, but fascinating (to me).  I was in the shower the other day and it wasn't draining as fast as it could, but not bad.  I looked and the drain and there might have been 3-4 hairs hung up on the grate so I tried to pick them up and attached to those 4, were another dozen that were down the drain, then attached those, another 100, after careful work, I eventually pulled up a hair ball the size of a small rat.  You could have made a toupee out of it!  Must have been a year of the wife's long hair going down the drain and getting hung up.  Oh, and the shower drains great now!

2012-12-06 1:00 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Pro
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Omaha, NE
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

Haha, I just got done doing this to my wife's sink two days ago.

It obviously depends on how/where it's clogged at.  Usually it's hair and residual gunk from toothpaste and stuff that clogs ours up.  It's almost always clogged between the drain stopper and the P trap under the sink.

I have never had them clogged downstream from the P trap so it's always a matter of grabbing a bucket, popping the P trap off and taking the stopper out.  Then use a long screwdriver to get all the gunk out between the drain hole and where the P trap connects and clean out the P trap itself.

If it's downstream from there then pretty much the only option is to go get a snake from home depot or wherever and start fishing.  Depending on where the clog is is what determines how long the snake needs to be.  Definitely make sure you snake it out with the P trap removed and don't try to snake through the P trap.



2012-12-06 1:01 PM
in reply to: #4524866

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Pro
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Omaha, NE
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
Kido - 2012-12-06 12:58 PM

Have you ever used liquid plumber or something similar?

I was shocked how it performed as claimed.  I tended to take the trap out myself.

 

Icky story, but fascinating (to me).  I was in the shower the other day and it wasn't draining as fast as it could, but not bad.  I looked and the drain and there might have been 3-4 hairs hung up on the grate so I tried to pick them up and attached to those 4, were another dozen that were down the drain, then attached those, another 100, after careful work, I eventually pulled up a hair ball the size of a small rat.  You could have made a toupee out of it!  Must have been a year of the wife's long hair going down the drain and getting hung up.  Oh, and the shower drains great now!

lol, been there done that several times.

2012-12-06 1:01 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Champion
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Chicago
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
Bleach does the same thing as Liquid Plumber for literally a fraction of the cost. Thanks Kido. That's gross.
2012-12-06 1:05 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Member
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NC
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

Sounds like womens' work.

 

 

2012-12-06 1:05 PM
in reply to: #4524879

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Champion
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Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

mr2tony - 2012-12-06 2:01 PM Bleach does the same thing as Liquid Plumber for literally a fraction of the cost. Thanks Kido. That's gross.

Yep good old chlorox works wonders.

It is also denser than the water so it sinks to the clog.  Just pour some in and let it sit.

 

2012-12-06 1:07 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Expert
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Frisco
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

disconnect the line below. it is probably only 2 plastic pieces that you can twist off with your hand. you will prob be surprised to see the gunk that is built up.



2012-12-06 1:22 PM
in reply to: #4524888

Master
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, California
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
trinnas - 2012-12-06 11:05 AM

mr2tony - 2012-12-06 2:01 PM Bleach does the same thing as Liquid Plumber for literally a fraction of the cost. Thanks Kido. That's gross.

Yep good old chlorox works wonders.

It is also denser than the water so it sinks to the clog.  Just pour some in and let it sit.

 

Just be careful if it doesn't get the job done.  If you try a snake afterwards, make sure you wear goggles.

2012-12-06 1:24 PM
in reply to: #4524879

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Champion
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Brooklyn, NY
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
mr2tony - 2012-12-06 1:01 PM

Bleach does the same thing as Liquid Plumber for literally a fraction of the cost. Thanks Kido. That's gross.


We live in an old building and have been told by the super not to use Draino or the like on clogs, because of the old pipes. Is Clorox likely to be less corrosive to the pipes, or is it just as bad?
There’s a new Liquid Plumber that comes with this long plastic flexible rod with little hooks on it that I think would be perfect for cleaning my wife’s hair out of the drain. I’ve been tempted to buy it just for the little tool it comes with, even if I’m not using the Liquid Plumber. I was going to hunt around at the home depot to see if I can find something similar.
2012-12-06 1:37 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Elite
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Minnetonka
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
Stop pooping in it...
2012-12-06 1:41 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Master
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Just South of Boston
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

Thanks folks. I need to try one of these hooked slim-jim sounding thigs.   Liquid plumber actually works? Hmmm...  If all else fails, I'll just go to the tried and true plug/stopper removal.

As for the shower drain, thats an annual job as well, and the phrase 'waterlogged rat' come to mind when trying to describe what comes out of that mess.

2012-12-06 1:44 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Master
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Southwest Iowa
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

Is it the time of year for this or what.  I just got done doing the same thing in the shower as KIDO just did.  I usually on the first of the month pour some cheap bleach into the sinks and shower drains after I change the HVAC filter.  That obviously means I skipped a month or two on the HVAC filter, so I know what I am doing tonight when I get home from work.

 



2012-12-06 1:49 PM
in reply to: #4524935

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Champion
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Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

jmk-brooklyn - 2012-12-06 2:24 PM
mr2tony - 2012-12-06 1:01 PM Bleach does the same thing as Liquid Plumber for literally a fraction of the cost. Thanks Kido. That's gross.
We live in an old building and have been told by the super not to use Draino or the like on clogs, because of the old pipes. Is Clorox likely to be less corrosive to the pipes, or is it just as bad? There’s a new Liquid Plumber that comes with this long plastic flexible rod with little hooks on it that I think would be perfect for cleaning my wife’s hair out of the drain. I’ve been tempted to buy it just for the little tool it comes with, even if I’m not using the Liquid Plumber. I was going to hunt around at the home depot to see if I can find something similar.

Draino is lye so yeah very corrosive to metel.  Chlorox is sodium hypochlorite it will etch stainless steel if you let it sit too long but it is not as corrosive as lye.  Liquid plumber is sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide btw so if the super is good with you using that then he should be fine with the chlorox. Let the chlorox sit but once the clog is cleared make sure to flush with copius amounts of water.

As for the little tool I havent seen it but you can get something similar sounding from walgreens called turbosnake.  It does an excellent job of cleanig my hair out of the drain and I have a lot of rather long hair.

 eta: liquid plumber does have a surfactant as well i just don't remember what exactly it is, basically detergent.

 



Edited by trinnas 2012-12-06 1:53 PM
2012-12-06 1:57 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Elite
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Boise
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
My first step is always the plunger. I of course bought a special one for sinks so I'm not using the toilet plunger. You'd be surprised what some good plunging will take care of.
2012-12-06 1:58 PM
in reply to: #4524820

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Veteran
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1000
St. Louis
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

A toilet plunger actually works really well, provided your sink is shaped so that you can get a good seal around the drain.

ETA:  Shoot, not as fast as Josh.  



Edited by kevin_trapp 2012-12-06 1:58 PM
2012-12-06 1:58 PM
in reply to: #4524879

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Master
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Rural Ontario
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

mr2tony - 2012-12-06 2:01 PM Bleach does the same thing as Liquid Plumber for literally a fraction of the cost. Thanks Kido. That's gross.

CAREFUL WITH THIS!

Bleach does not work like Liquid Plumber. Bleach typicaly contains a 5% Sodium Hypochlorite - a strong oxidizer. It may clear some of the biofouling but it won't make that much of a difference on hair and paper stuck in the drain.

Liquid Plumber is typically a Caustic Soda soluiton (NaOH). This is a strong base. It will dissolve most organic matter and works great at clearing plugged drains due to hair, paper, etc.

The danger lies in using bleach - finding it did not  do what you wanted and then trying Liquid Plumber. Mixing the two produces chlorine gas - this stuff is deadly (Used as a chemical weapon in WWI).

I would stick to plungers, sewer snakes and Caustic. If none of those don't work call in a professional.

 

 

 

 

2012-12-06 2:13 PM
in reply to: #4524997

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Master
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Rural Ontario
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

trinnas - 2012-12-06 2:49 PM   Draino is lye so yeah very corrosive to metel.  Chlorox is sodium hypochlorite it will etch stainless steel if you let it sit too long but it is not as corrosive as lye. 

Draino (AKA: Lye, Caustic, NaOH) is not corrosive for most metals used in household plumbing (Copper, Stainless Steels, irons).  You do not want to mix it with metalic Aluminum as it will reduce it to Al(OH)3

Chlorox (AkA: Bleach, NaHClO), being a strong oxidizer, is much more agreessive on household metals. If left to sit in on a metal it will start 'rusting' it. I would avoid extended exposure on all metals other than speciality oxydation-resistant ones like Hasteloy (very expensive stuff). Bleach is also not very good for PVC piping (though CPVC is more resistant).

I suggest a little experiment. Take two glasses and fill one with Draino and the other with Bleach.  Drop a older penny and a paperclip in each.  Look again in a few days.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/metal-corrosion-resistance-d_491.html

 

 



Edited by mgalanter 2012-12-06 2:15 PM


2012-12-06 2:28 PM
in reply to: #4525057

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Champion
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Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
mgalanter - 2012-12-06 3:13 PM

trinnas - 2012-12-06 2:49 PM   Draino is lye so yeah very corrosive to metel.  Chlorox is sodium hypochlorite it will etch stainless steel if you let it sit too long but it is not as corrosive as lye. 

Draino (AKA: Lye, Caustic, NaOH) is not corrosive for most metals used in household plumbing (Copper, Stainless Steels, irons).  You do not want to mix it with metalic Aluminum as it will reduce it to Al(OH)3

Chlorox (AkA: Bleach, NaHClO), being a strong oxidizer, is much more agreessive on household metals. If left to sit in on a metal it will start 'rusting' it. I would avoid extended exposure on all metals other than speciality oxydation-resistant ones like Hasteloy (very expensive stuff). Bleach is also not very good for PVC piping (though CPVC is more resistant).

I suggest a little experiment. Take two glasses and fill one with Draino and the other with Bleach.  Drop a older penny and a paperclip in each.  Look again in a few days.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/metal-corrosion-resistance-d_491.html

 

 

Ah thank you I stand corrected on the Lye, it has been a while.

2012-12-06 2:31 PM
in reply to: #4525023

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Champion
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Chicago
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
mgalanter - 2012-12-06 1:58 PM

mr2tony - 2012-12-06 2:01 PM Bleach does the same thing as Liquid Plumber for literally a fraction of the cost. Thanks Kido. That's gross.

CAREFUL WITH THIS!

Bleach does not work like Liquid Plumber. Bleach typicaly contains a 5% Sodium Hypochlorite - a strong oxidizer. It may clear some of the biofouling but it won't make that much of a difference on hair and paper stuck in the drain.

Liquid Plumber is typically a Caustic Soda soluiton (NaOH). This is a strong base. It will dissolve most organic matter and works great at clearing plugged drains due to hair, paper, etc.

The danger lies in using bleach - finding it did not  do what you wanted and then trying Liquid Plumber. Mixing the two produces chlorine gas - this stuff is deadly (Used as a chemical weapon in WWI).

I would stick to plungers, sewer snakes and Caustic. If none of those don't work call in a professional.

 

 

 

 



Oh dang. I've been using bleach since college when my friend, a plumber, told me that. Generally I just put some bleach in the drain before I shower so it doesn't sit for more than a few minutes, tops. Is that OK?
2012-12-06 2:39 PM
in reply to: #4525104

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Champion
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Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?
mr2tony - 2012-12-06 3:31 PM
mgalanter - 2012-12-06 1:58 PM

mr2tony - 2012-12-06 2:01 PM Bleach does the same thing as Liquid Plumber for literally a fraction of the cost. Thanks Kido. That's gross.

CAREFUL WITH THIS!

Bleach does not work like Liquid Plumber. Bleach typicaly contains a 5% Sodium Hypochlorite - a strong oxidizer. It may clear some of the biofouling but it won't make that much of a difference on hair and paper stuck in the drain.

Liquid Plumber is typically a Caustic Soda soluiton (NaOH). This is a strong base. It will dissolve most organic matter and works great at clearing plugged drains due to hair, paper, etc.

The danger lies in using bleach - finding it did not  do what you wanted and then trying Liquid Plumber. Mixing the two produces chlorine gas - this stuff is deadly (Used as a chemical weapon in WWI).

I would stick to plungers, sewer snakes and Caustic. If none of those don't work call in a professional.

 

 

 

 

Oh dang. I've been using bleach since college when my friend, a plumber, told me that. Generally I just put some bleach in the drain before I shower so it doesn't sit for more than a few minutes, tops. Is that OK?

LP is sodium hypochlorite, the same as bleach and contains sodium Hydroxide aka (NaOH) aka Lye.  So liquid plumr is bleach and lye mixed together already.

 

http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/products/ingredients-inside/en-us/liquidplumr/prostrengthliquidplumrpowergelclogremover/

2012-12-06 2:46 PM
in reply to: #4525121

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink?

I'm tapping out.  College Chem was like 2-3 hundred years ago.

 

I just know I mixed dish washing detergent and bleach once because the bottle said not to, and I almost knocked myself out.

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