I tried the baking soda and vinegar thing once and ended up with a foamy mess and a still-blocked sink. Ended up dismantling the trap anyway—nothing like the smell of old pasta water to make you question your life choices. At least it's eco-friendly, right?
Honestly, the baking soda and vinegar trick gets way more hype than it deserves. It’s great for maintenance, but if you’ve got a serious clog—especially one involving old pasta water—it’s just not powerful enough. I’ve seen folks pour gallons of that mix down the drain and still end up elbow-deep in gunk. Sometimes, you really do have to break out the wrench and tackle the trap. Not glamorous, but it works every time. At least you gave the eco-friendly route a shot before going full hardware mode.
Yeah, I’m with you on this one. Baking soda and vinegar is fine if you’re just trying to keep things fresh or clear out a little bit of buildup, but once you’ve got a real clog—especially something like pasta water that’s turned into glue in the pipes—it’s basically just fizz and hope. I’ve watched people dump half their pantry down the drain and then wonder why nothing’s moving.
Honestly, once you start seeing the water pool up and it’s not budging, it’s time to get under the sink. The trap is usually where all the gross stuff collects anyway. It’s not fun, but it’s way faster than waiting for some “magic” reaction to do what a wrench can handle in five minutes. Plus, you actually get to see what was causing the problem... which is sometimes horrifying, but at least you know it’s gone.
I will say, though, if you’re dealing with hair clogs (like in a bathroom sink), those little plastic drain snakes are surprisingly effective and way less messy than taking apart pipes. For kitchen stuff? Nah, most of the time it’s food sludge or grease, and that needs real cleaning.
Props for trying the eco-friendly route first. Just don’t expect miracles if there’s a year’s worth of spaghetti water lurking down there. Sometimes old-school elbow grease is the only thing that works.
Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times tenants have tried the baking soda and vinegar trick and then called me when it didn’t work. I get wanting to avoid chemicals, but once you’ve got a stubborn clog, it’s usually time to roll up your sleeves. I’m with you—pulling the trap is gross, but at least you know what you’re dealing with. Last time I did it, found a fork and about half a potato wedged in there... not exactly something fizz is gonna fix.
Those plastic snakes are great for hair, but kitchen sinks? Nine times out of ten it’s grease or food gunk that needs a real clean-out. Curious if anyone’s actually had luck with those enzyme drain cleaners over time? I’ve heard mixed things—some folks swear by them, others say they’re just slow and don’t do much for big blockages. Wondering if they’re worth keeping on hand or just another “magic potion” that doesn’t deliver.
Battle Of The Blocked Sink: Which Magic Potion Actually Works?
- Enzyme cleaners have their place, but they’re not a miracle fix for a full-on clog. They work better as a maintenance thing—think slow drains, not stopped ones. If the water’s just sitting there, enzymes can’t even reach the gunk.
- For grease-heavy kitchen sinks, I’ve had more luck with a hot water flush and a good old-fashioned manual clean-out. Sometimes I’ll use a degreaser, but honestly, nothing beats pulling the trap and seeing what’s really in there. It’s gross, but it works.
- Baking soda and vinegar? Nice for freshening up, but like you said, not much use once you’ve got a potato chunk or a wad of pasta wedged in.
- Those enzyme products can help keep things clear if you use them regularly, but they’re not going to chew through a solid blockage overnight. I’d keep them around for prevention, not emergencies.
- If you want to avoid harsh chemicals, try boiling water and dish soap as a first step. But if it’s not budging, time to grab a bucket and get under the sink.
Had one tenant swear by pouring cola down the drain... didn’t do much except make everything sticky.
