Had a guy once who thought he could “muscle” the P-trap back on—ended up cross-threading the thing and flooding the cabinet. I’m with you, gentle hand and a towel under the trap, way less drama than mystery goo. Those enzyme cleaners just make my drains smell like a science experiment gone wrong...
Those enzyme cleaners just make my drains smell like a science experiment gone wrong...
Yeah, I hear you on that. I tried one of those “eco” enzyme gels—ended up with a weird, sweet odor that lingered for days. Honestly, regular boiling water flushes and a mesh strainer have kept my pipes clear without any drama. Hand-tighten those fittings and skip the goop... less mess, less waste.
Totally get where you’re coming from—those enzyme cleaners always promise a lot but the smell is just... odd. I tried one that left my bathroom smelling like overripe bananas for a week. Honestly, I’ve had better luck just dumping a kettle of hot water down the drain every so often and using a little baking soda and vinegar if things start to slow up. Less plastic waste, too, which makes me feel a bit better about it all.
Honestly, I’m with you on the weird smells—some of those enzyme cleaners just swap one problem for another. I do like the hot water and baking soda trick, but I’d add a word of caution: pouring boiling water down older pipes (especially PVC) can warp them over time. I usually stick to very hot tap water instead, just to be safe. Also, I always make sure to run water for a minute after using vinegar and baking soda, since that combo can sometimes leave residue if it sits too long. Learned that the hard way when my kitchen sink started draining slower after a “deep clean.”
Honestly, I think you nailed it about the boiling water—people underestimate how easy it is to mess up PVC. I’ve seen pipes get soft and start leaking just from folks thinking hotter is always better. Hot tap water’s plenty for most clogs, especially if you’re doing regular upkeep.
About the baking soda and vinegar thing, I’m not a huge fan. It fizzes and looks like it’s doing something, but in reality, it doesn’t break down grease or gunk as much as people hope. If anything, like you said, it can leave a weird paste behind if you don’t flush it out well. I’d rather use a proper enzyme cleaner (even with the weird smell) or just stick to mechanical methods—like a drain snake or even just a plunger.
One thing I always tell people: don’t dump coffee grounds or grease down the sink, no matter what TikTok says. That stuff builds up way faster than you’d think... then you’re calling someone like me to clear out a nasty clog.
