Funny you mention the towels—I've lost count of how many times I've thought I had everything under control, only for water to end up halfway across the bathroom. Those plastic snakes are my go-to now, too. Ever tried one of those little hand-powered augers? I find they work better for stubborn clogs, but sometimes they just make a bigger mess. Curious if anyone's had luck with enzyme drain cleaners... I've heard mixed things, but never actually tried them myself.
Hand-powered augers can be a double-edged sword, honestly. I’ve seen folks get a clog moving, but then end up with black gunk splattered everywhere—ask me how I know... As for enzyme cleaners, I’m a bit skeptical. They sound nice in theory, but in real life, they’re more of a slow burn. They won’t touch a solid hairball, but might help with buildup over time. Plastic snakes are usually the sweet spot for most bathroom clogs, unless you’re dealing with something truly gnarly.
Plastic snakes are usually the sweet spot for most bathroom clogs, unless you’re dealing with something truly gnarly.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had better luck with hand-powered augers for tough clogs. Yeah, they’re messy if you’re not careful, but they reach way deeper than those plastic snakes. For me, it’s worth the cleanup if it means not having to call a plumber. Just gotta lay down some towels and go slow. Enzyme cleaners are more for maintenance, in my experience—not a quick fix.
Honestly, I’d rather deal with a little mess than dump harsh chemicals down the drain. I’ve used both plastic snakes and hand augers, and yeah, the auger definitely gets deeper clogs out—especially if there’s hair or soap buildup way down the pipe. Just make sure you rinse everything well after. Those enzyme cleaners are good for keeping things clear, but they won’t budge a stubborn clog in my experience. If you’re worried about waste, just use old towels to catch the gunk.
Yeah, I’m with you on skipping the harsh drain cleaners. They’re brutal on pipes over time, and honestly, they rarely do much for a real clog. Hand augers are the way to go if you can get to the trap—those cheap plastic snakes are fine for surface stuff, but anything further down, you’re just wasting your energy. I’ve seen folks try boiling water or baking soda and vinegar, but that’s not doing squat for a hairball wedged a few feet in.
One thing I’d add: if you’re pulling out a mess of hair and gunk, toss it in the trash, not back down the drain (I’ve seen people do this, believe it or not). Also, if you’ve got an old tub with a drum trap, be careful—those can be a pain to reseal.
Enzyme stuff is alright for maintenance but useless against a full blockage. I’ve had some luck with a wet/dry vac too, but it gets gross fast. Just comes down to getting your hands dirty most times... no magic fix.
