any good/easy way to unclog a bathroom sink? (Page 2)

Soooooooo many sick, twisted, and inappropriate comments that I could just blurt out and get this post yanked away to the ether, but I won't.  However, I will say, ICKY!

We use bleach in our stainless steel tanks to kill any live organisms, cells, viruses, bacteria etc. after analysis or cell sorting.  We typically add enough bleach until there is at least a 10 % solution and let it sit for anywhere from 10 minutes to upwards of an hour with no damage to the tanks.  A few minutes should not be an issue.

Good info and ideas.  I am having a simular issue but with one of the toilets in the house.   Its in the original bathroom (house built 1909) and while it flushes fine there is less "pull" compared to the other toilets in the house to clear out the bowl.  My kids use the bathroom most and they don't hang around to make sure the drop zone is clear.  Fortunately it does not overflow

I have tried a short toilet snake without much improvement.  Would Draino work or would I be better to lift the toilet and snake out the waste line?  My fear is that the waste line is constricted due to age and corrosion.

I'll just say, no, and leave it at that.

If it is a different style or model toilet it my be the toilet itself. My Daughter & SIL bought a house (newer) and the master bath toilet didn't flush very well. On one of our visits we messed around with it and figured it wasn't the plumbing. They got a new toilet for xmas last year and have been thrilled with their carppy xmas present.

Definitely could be this. I have an awful toilet in my bathroom. I think the limit is about 4 squares.

UPDATE -- I have been to the Zip-it mountain, and now I am a believer!! That saw-toothed platic thing is fantastic, and let me do the job in 5 minutes for both sinks. No futzing with the drain plug, etc. Also followed that up with some super-strength Liquid Plumber stuff, and both sinks are clean & clear as can be.

The power of the collective BT mind should never be underestimated. Thanks everyone!

The only thing I will add is that they now make a "natural" alternative to liquid plumber that is supposed to act on the organic material.  I've used that with success in my sinks.  It's some kind of citrus stuff...located in the same place in the store as the liquid plumber.

Anyway, I figure it has to be less corrosive on the pipes. :D  Using that on a more frequent basis might prevent the mega build up from happening...I wish I could remember the name but it's escaping me.

One thing I would suggest - especially if the problem is in your shower - is you can get a plastic or metal mesh "hair catcher" that just sits over the drain and will collect the majority of the hair that would normally go down the drain during a shower.  I don't think they cost very much, but might be worth purchasing if this has happened more than once! 

When a toilet doesn't often drain completely it can be because the holes at the top of the bowl where the water comes out have partially clogged with hard water/calcium deposits. There is a chemical you can buy at a good plumbing supply place (not HD) that you can squirt up there and help open them up.

They (whoever they are) make a little device that screws on the end of a hose.  You put it in the drain and the water swells the device up in the pipe and it forms a seal.  Then the water pressure build up down stream and forces the plug out.

I can't recall what they are called.  I have one in my fitting kit at home.  I used one all the timein Florida on pools when I worked down there.  No chemicals jsut water pressure.

Joe

OK it's called a clog buster, here is a short video example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVHQdJgh5Z4