my drain's possessed - need a DIY exorcism idea

Baking soda and vinegar's decent for minor gunk, but honestly, sounds like yours is beyond that. Usually, random gurgling and nasty smells mean you've got a venting issue or a partial clog deeper down. If you're comfortable, maybe disconnect the trap under the sink (bucket underneath, trust me) and clean it out manually. Could also snake it gently - those plastic barbed drain sticks work wonders for pulling out unholy gobs of mystery sludge...

"Could also snake it gently - those plastic barbed drain sticks work wonders for pulling out unholy gobs of mystery sludge..."

Yeah, those plastic sticks are lifesavers. Just be careful if you're disconnecting the trap - seen a few DIYers underestimate the mess factor. Gloves and goggles aren't overkill here, trust me. Sounds like you're on the right track though; drains can be stubborn, but patience usually wins out. Good luck with your plumbing exorcism...hope it's not too horrifying down there.

Those plastic barbed sticks are handy for sure, but I've had mixed luck with them...sometimes they just push the clog further down. A couple extra tips from my own drain battles:

- If you're disconnecting the trap, put a bucket underneath first - sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people learn that the hard way (myself included, unfortunately).
- Baking soda and vinegar can loosen things up nicely if you're dealing with greasy buildup. Let it fizz for about 20 mins before flushing with hot water.
- If you have metal pipes, boiling water can help too. But careful with PVC pipes - super hot water isn't great for them.
- And yeah, gloves and goggles are definitely your friends here. Learned that after getting mystery sludge splashed in my face once...not fun.

Good luck tackling your possessed drain. Usually these DIY exorcisms aren't as scary as they first look - just messy and mildly disgusting.

Good call on the bucket under the trap - I learned that lesson the hard way too, and let's just say my kitchen floor got an unexpected bath. Baking soda and vinegar has saved me a few plumber calls already, but here's my go-to method if you want to give it a shot:

1. First, pour about half a cup of baking soda down the drain. Try to get as much of it down there as possible.
2. Follow that with a cup of white vinegar. It'll fizz like crazy - totally normal, and kinda satisfying to watch.
3. Let it sit for at least 20-30 minutes (longer if you can stand the suspense).
4. Flush it out with hot water - not boiling if you've got PVC pipes, like mentioned above. Just hot tap water should do the trick.

If that doesn't fully clear things up, you might have to brave the trap removal. It's gross but usually effective. And yeah, gloves are non-negotiable unless you enjoy mystery slime manicures. Good luck with your haunted plumbing adventures...

Your baking soda and vinegar method is pretty solid advice, actually. I've tried it myself a few times, and I agree - it's oddly satisfying watching that fizz bubble up. But I gotta admit, I've had mixed results with it. Sometimes it clears things right up, other times... well, let's just say my drain laughed at me and stayed stubbornly clogged.

One thing I've found helpful (and a bit less messy) is using a drain snake. Yeah, it's not the most pleasant task - especially when you start pulling out stuff you didn't even know could fit down there - but it's usually effective enough to avoid calling in the pros. Plus, from an eco-friendly standpoint, you're not pouring anything questionable down the pipes, even if baking soda and vinegar are pretty harmless.

Also, good call on the hot water versus boiling water distinction. Learned that one the hard way too when I warped a PVC pipe in my bathroom sink. Not fun replacing plumbing parts unexpectedly...

And gloves? Definitely non-negotiable. Mystery slime manicures might sound like a trendy spa treatment to some folks, but count me out.

Anyway, your method sounds legit enough to try first before breaking out heavier artillery. Plumbing issues are always a bit of trial and error in my experience - sometimes what works perfectly for one person just doesn't cut it for someone else. But hey, if your drain really is possessed... maybe sprinkle some sage down there too? Can't hurt at this point.

"One thing I've found helpful (and a bit less messy) is using a drain snake."

Drain snakes definitely saved me from calling a plumber once or twice. Baking soda and vinegar looked cool, but my drain just shrugged it off. The snake, though... pulled out stuff that made me question my life choices. Gloves mandatory for sure. Honestly, plumbing feels like dark magic sometimes - maybe sage isn't such a bad idea after all?

The fizz is satisfying, but I wouldn’t count on baking soda and vinegar to loosen greasy buildup or clear a clog. They react with each other, but that fizz doesn’t give them much reach or force against a blockage. For a slow drain, a physical approach is more likely to help than relying on that mixture; gurgling alongside the slowdown is another reason not to assume grease is the whole problem.