I get where you’re coming from about the pressurized blasters—seen a couple of those go sideways on old pipes, and it’s not pretty. But I’ve actually had some luck with “natural” fixes for partial clogs, especially when it’s just soap scum or a slow drain. Baking soda and vinegar won’t clear a full-on blockage, but sometimes it loosens things up enough that you don’t have to go straight to snaking. Still, I’d never trust it for anything major... too risky if you’re hoping for a miracle. Prevention’s definitely the name of the game, though.
I’ve had mixed results with baking soda and vinegar too—sometimes it’s just not enough, especially if there’s hair involved. Last year, I started using mesh drain covers in the shower and kitchen sink. Honestly, they catch way more gunk than I expected. Just have to remember to clean them out every few days or they get gross fast... but it’s way better than dealing with a full-on clog.
Mesh covers are fine, but honestly, I’ve seen them cause more problems than they solve if folks forget to clean them. In my rentals, people let those things sit for a week and then the water’s backing up anyway because the cover itself is clogged with hair and food bits. At that point, you’re just moving the clog from inside the pipe to right at the top of the drain.
I’ve had better luck just telling tenants to run hot water for a couple minutes after showers or doing dishes. Not perfect, but it helps push stuff through before it has a chance to build up. And every few months, I’ll use one of those flexible plastic drain snakes—cheap, takes like 30 seconds, and pulls out way more hair than you’d think. Baking soda and vinegar never did much for me either... feels more like wishful thinking than an actual fix.
Guess it comes down to how much you want to babysit your drains. Mesh covers work if you’re on top of cleaning them, but if not, sometimes they just add another step to the mess.
I get where you're coming from about mesh covers turning into mini-clogs if nobody cleans them. Seen that happen plenty of times, especially in shared bathrooms. But I still think they're worth it if you pick the right style and set a routine. The flat stainless ones with small holes seem to work better than those deep basket types that just collect gunk.
Here's what I've found works: I keep a pack of disposable gloves under the sink and just swipe the cover clean every other day—takes maybe 10 seconds. If you make it part of your routine, it's less gross and you never get that big, slimy backup. The hot water trick is good, but it won't catch hair or bigger food bits before they go down. And once they're in the pipe, it's a pain.
Drain snakes are great for maintenance, but I’d rather not have to use them unless I have to. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather deal with a little mess on top than a full-on clog down below...
The flat stainless ones with small holes seem to work better than those deep basket types that just collect gunk.
Couldn’t agree more—those deep baskets are like gunk magnets. I’ve seen them turn into science experiments in apartment buildings. One thing I’d add: if you’ve got hard water, even the flat covers can get mineral buildup, so a quick vinegar soak every month helps. I’m with you on the gloves too... makes the whole process way less gross.