"Every week or two, I boil a kettle and pour it slowly down the drain."
I've tried the boiling water trick too, but honestly, I'm skeptical about how effective it is long-term. Has anyone experimented with baking soda and vinegar regularly? Curious if that's worth the effort or just another DIY myth...
I've been doing the baking soda and vinegar thing for about six months now, maybe once every two weeks or so. Honestly, it seems to help keep odors away and my drains haven't clogged yet (fingers crossed). But I did some digging around online, and apparently it's more about maintenance than actually clearing serious blockages. If you've got a stubborn clog, you'll probably still need something stronger or a snake...but for routine upkeep, seems decent enough.
You're spot on about baking soda and vinegar being more preventative than curative. It's great for keeping odors down and preventing buildup, but once a clog really sets in, you'll usually need something stronger or mechanical. Curious if anyone's tried enzyme-based cleaners—they're eco-friendly and I've seen decent results with them for routine maintenance...
"Curious if anyone's tried enzyme-based cleaners—they're eco-friendly and I've seen decent results with them for routine maintenance..."
I've actually had good luck with enzyme cleaners for routine upkeep. They seem to break down the organic gunk pretty effectively, especially in kitchen drains. But like you said, once there's a serious blockage, it's back to the trusty drain snake or plunger... enzymes aren't miracle workers, unfortunately. Still, they're great to keep things flowing smoothly between tougher clean-outs.
I've been using enzyme cleaners for a while now, and honestly, they're pretty solid for regular maintenance. I pour some down the kitchen sink about once a month, usually overnight so it has plenty of time to work. Definitely noticed fewer funky smells and less sluggish draining since I started doing that.
But yeah, like you mentioned, they're not exactly heavy-duty blockage removers. Had a nasty clog last year (thanks to my kid's pasta obsession...), and enzymes didn't even touch it. Ended up having to snake it out manually—messy job, but effective.
Still, for day-to-day upkeep, enzymes are great. Plus, it's nice knowing I'm not dumping harsh chemicals into the water supply every time the drain slows down a bit.
