Those twisty snakes are lifesavers for hair clogs, honestly. I keep a stash in my “emergency” kit after one too many late-night calls about slow drains. As for silicone strainers, I’ve had mixed luck—some hold up, others get floppy after a year. The mesh ones just get gross, fast.
Twisty snakes are a must, totally agree—those things have saved me from calling a plumber more than once. Here’s what’s worked for me on the cheap:
- Silicone strainers: I’ve had the same issue with them warping or getting floppy. The trick is to look for ones with a metal rim. They cost a couple bucks more but last way longer.
- Mesh strainers: Yeah, they get gross fast. I rinse mine every night and soak it in vinegar once a week. Not perfect, but it keeps the gunk down.
- For hair clogs, I actually use a combo—strainer to catch most of it, then snake every month or so just to be safe.
- If you’re dealing with slow drains even after cleaning, sometimes it’s soap scum buildup. A kettle of boiling water down the drain every week helps (just don’t do this if you’ve got PVC pipes).
Honestly, I’ve tried those enzyme drain cleaners too. Mixed results, but they’re cheap and less harsh than chemicals. Just takes patience...
Metal-rimmed silicone strainers really are a game changer—my old all-silicone ones would just fold in on themselves after a few months. I’ve also had mixed luck with enzyme cleaners. Sometimes they seem to help, but other times I’m not sure they do much beyond making me feel like I’m “doing something.” One thing I’ve found surprisingly effective is just unscrewing the trap and cleaning it out every few months. It’s a little gross, but honestly, it’s the only way I’ve ever gotten rid of that persistent slow drain issue. Anyone else find boiling water sometimes just moves the gunk further down the pipe?
Totally with you on the metal-rimmed strainers—they’re way sturdier, and I’m not constantly fishing them out of the disposal. Enzyme cleaners are hit or miss for me too. Sometimes I think they’re just expensive peace of mind. As for boiling water, yeah, it’s like giving the clog a head start down the pipe... then it just camps out somewhere worse. Taking apart the trap is gross but weirdly satisfying when you see what’s been lurking in there.
Honestly, I’m still on the fence about enzyme cleaners. I know folks say they’re just “expensive peace of mind,” but after a gnarly pasta incident (don’t ask), they actually saved my bacon. Maybe it’s luck, or maybe my pipes are just weirdly compatible? As for boiling water, I swear it’s like playing Russian roulette with your plumbing... but sometimes it works if you catch the clog early. Taking apart the trap, though—yeah, that’s a horror show every time.
