"Warm water and some baking soda usually does the trick just fine."
Totally agree on the baking soda—cheap, eco-friendly, and works wonders. Ever tried adding a splash of vinegar afterward? It fizzes up nicely and clears out any funky smells too... worth a shot maybe?
The baking soda and vinegar combo can help a bit, but honestly, it's not gonna clear out tougher build-ups like hair or grease deeper in the pipes. If you're noticing slow drains regularly, I'd suggest doing a quick manual cleanout every few months—grab one of those cheap drain snakes (they sell them everywhere), twist it down a few feet, and pull up whatever gunk you snag. It's gross, but it works. Anyone had luck preventing buildup with drain strainers or something similar?
Yeah, drain snakes are definitely the way to go for tougher clogs. Baking soda and vinegar can freshen things up a bit, but they're not strong enough to tackle serious buildup like hair or grease deeper down. I've found drain strainers pretty helpful, especially in the shower. They're cheap and catch most of the hair before it even gets into the pipes. But honestly, in kitchen sinks, grease is the bigger issue. Even if you're careful about not pouring oil down the drain, small amounts build up over time. I've started regularly flushing my kitchen drain with boiling water every week or so—seems to help keep things flowing better. Not a perfect solution, but it's eco-friendly and easy enough to do regularly...
I get what you're saying about boiling water, but honestly, I'm a bit skeptical it does much for deeper grease buildup. It might help a bit near the surface, but once grease cools further down the pipe, isn't it just gonna solidify again? I'd probably stick with enzyme-based cleaners occasionally—they're eco-friendly and actually break down grease instead of just pushing it further along.
I had similar doubts about boiling water myself. Last year, after we renovated our kitchen, I noticed the sink draining slower and figured it was grease buildup from all the cooking we'd done during the remodel. Tried boiling water a few times—it seemed to help temporarily, but the issue kept returning. Switched to enzyme cleaners every month or so, and honestly, haven't had trouble since. Seems like enzymes really do break down grease deeper in the pipes rather than just shifting it around...
