- Tried the enzyme route too after my dad swore by them. Maybe my pipes are immune? All I got was a faint citrus smell and the same slow drain.
- Manual clean-out is both horrifying and weirdly satisfying—like fishing for a prize you never wanted. The stuff that comes out looks like it could crawl away on its own...
- I did find that one of those little plastic drain snakes works wonders. Not glamorous, but way better than dumping more mystery liquid down there.
- For what it’s worth, someone told me pouring boiling water down every week helps, but I always forget. Maybe if I set a calendar reminder?
- Enzyme cleaners feel like the “vitamins” of home maintenance—maybe they help in the background, but you never really notice unless you skip them for months.
- Still waiting for the day someone invents self-cleaning pipes. Until then, guess it’s gloves and bravery every few months.
Self-cleaning pipes would be a game changer, but until then, yeah—manual clean-out is hard to beat. I’ve tried enzyme cleaners too and honestly, they’re hit or miss in older houses. In my experience, the plastic drain snakes are the most reliable for hair and gunk. I keep one under the sink now after a particularly nasty backup last winter—pulled out what looked like a small animal. Not fun, but it worked.
Boiling water does help with grease if you do it regularly, but it won’t do much for hair or soap buildup. If you’ve got metal pipes, just watch the temperature so you don’t loosen any joints over time. I’ve seen people pour all sorts of stuff down their drains (baking soda, vinegar, even cola) but nothing beats just getting in there with gloves and a snake every couple months. It’s gross, but it works.
I hear you on the enzyme cleaners—sometimes they just make things smell weird and don’t do much else. Snakes are my go-to too, but I always warn tenants to be careful not to scratch up old pipes. One time a guy used a coat hanger and we ended up with a leak... lesson learned.
- Gotta disagree a bit on the enzyme cleaners—if you actually give ‘em time to work (like overnight), they can help with gunk.
- Snakes are solid, but yeah, coat hangers are plumbing’s worst enemy... seen more leaks from those than actual clogs.
- Also, for old pipes, I usually go with a wet/dry vac first. Way less drama, and nobody ends up cursing at 2am.
Never thought to try a wet/dry vac on the drains, but that actually makes a lot of sense, especially if you’re trying to avoid chemicals and save a bit on plumber calls. I’m with you on coat hangers—tried that trick once and ended up with a bent mess and a small leak. For enzyme cleaners, do you notice any difference between brands, or are they all about the same in your experience? I’m always looking for something that works but doesn’t break the bank...
