Tried enzyme cleaners a couple times when I was at my uncle’s place—he swears by them for his ancient kitchen sink. Honestly, they worked but took a couple days to fully clear the slow drain. Not instant like the chemical stuff, but I liked that it didn’t smell harsh or seem to mess with the pipes. Still, if you’ve got a real clog (like hair and grease mashed together), I’ve had to go in with a snake anyway... Wonder if anyone’s ever had those enzymes eat through a really stubborn clog, or are they just for maintenance?
Enzyme stuff is great for keeping things flowing, but when my kitchen sink was fully jammed with a “mystery mass,” it just sat there bubbling away and didn’t do much. I usually go: hot water flush, enzyme soak overnight, then snake if it’s still stubborn. Not the fastest fix, but at least I’m not melting my pipes or emptying my wallet on chemicals every time.
I hear you on the enzyme stuff—it’s great for maintenance, but when I had a full-on clog (think: ancient pasta and who-knows-what), it just fizzed and mocked me. I’ve tried boiling water and baking soda/vinegar too, but honestly, the snake is what finally got things moving. Ever tried one of those little plastic barbed drain sticks? They’re cheap and surprisingly effective for hair or gunk near the top. Curious if anyone’s had luck with those pressurized air blasters... they look fun but maybe overkill?
I actually picked up one of those barbed drain sticks after moving in—they really do pull out a shocking amount of hair and grime. I’ve looked at the air blasters too, but honestly, I’m a bit wary. Seems like a lot of force for old pipes? The snake feels safer, even if it’s not exactly pleasant to use.
If you’re worried about the air blasters, I get it—old pipes can be unpredictable. I’ve always stuck to low-impact fixes for that reason. Here’s my go-to routine when the sink gets slow:
1. Boil a kettle of water and pour it straight down. Sometimes that alone clears minor gunk.
2. Next, I’ll mix baking soda and vinegar (about half a cup each). Dump in the baking soda first, then the vinegar. Let it fizz for 10–15 minutes.
3. Rinse again with boiling water.
If that doesn’t do the trick, the barbed stick is my backup. I agree, it’s gross but effective. The snake works too, but I’ve found it’s easy to scratch pipes if you’re not careful.
I avoid chemical drain cleaners because they’re rough on both pipes and the environment. Never tried those air blasters myself—just seems like a recipe for leaks or worse with 60-year-old plumbing. If you’re not in a rush, sometimes just repeating the baking soda/vinegar combo a couple times does wonders.
