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?
