That CLR story made me laugh—seen it too many times. I had a tenant who thought he could “refresh” all the sink hardware with a vinegar soak, left it overnight, and woke up to pitted chrome and a clogged aerator. There’s definitely a point where trying to deep-clean just does more harm than good.
I’ve learned the hard way that those cheap mesh strainers are kind of a false economy if you’re not diligent. They catch hair and food scraps, but once they start rusting or the mesh gets loose, stuff slips through anyway. I started buying the mid-range stainless ones in bulk, swapping them out every six months whether they look bad or not. Seems like overkill, but it’s cheaper than another call to the plumber.
The boiling water trick is tempting for grease, but yeah, pipes can’t always handle it—especially in places with older infrastructure. A gentle flush with hot tap water and regular snaking seems to keep things moving most of the time. Never found a miracle product yet... just old-fashioned maintenance.
Honestly, I’d push back a bit on the boiling water thing. If you’re dealing with PVC or older galvanized pipes, yeah, you’ve gotta be careful, but in most modern setups, a controlled pour of boiling water (not a flood) can actually help break up grease before it hardens. I’ve seen more issues from folks overusing chemical drain cleaners than from hot water. As for strainers, I get the bulk-buy logic, but sometimes a solid brass one with a silicone rim lasts way longer than any stainless mesh—costs more upfront, but you’re not tossing them every few months. Maintenance is key, but the right gear makes a difference.
I tried the boiling water trick once after a late-night fried chicken binge—let’s just say my pipes survived, but my confidence didn’t. Ended up with a plumber’s bill and a lecture about “modern plumbing” vs. my 1970s setup. Anyone else have those mesh strainers that seem to collect more gunk than they stop? I swear mine’s a science experiment at this point...
Anyone else have those mesh strainers that seem to collect more gunk than they stop? I swear mine’s a science experiment at this point...
Honestly, I think those mesh strainers are more trouble than they're worth. They catch the big stuff, sure, but then you’re left poking at a gross blob every week. I swapped mine for one of those silicone cup-style ones—way easier to rinse out, and no weird smells. If you’re still dealing with 1970s pipes, though, I’d skip the boiling water trick and just do a quick weekly flush with hot (not boiling) tap water and a dash of dish soap. Keeps things moving without risking a meltdown... literally.
I’ve seen those mesh ones turn into literal petri dishes under the sink, no joke. I’m curious, though—has anyone tried those twisty plastic drain snakes? I hand them out to tenants and they swear by them for hair clogs. Silicone strainers sound promising, but do they really hold up over time? I’ve had a few that warped after a few months.
