I get the appeal of a hand auger, but honestly, I’ve seen folks do more damage than good with those if they’re not careful. I’m all for DIY, but sometimes you end up scratching up the pipe or pushing the clog further down. Personally, I swear by a wet/dry vac for minor clogs—less risk to the pipes, and it’s surprisingly effective if you know how to seal it up right. Liquid stuff is a hard no from me too... learned that lesson the hard way with a warped PVC elbow.
Totally get where you’re coming from on the hand auger—seen more than a few pipes chewed up by folks going at it a bit too aggressively. Wet/dry vac trick is underrated, honestly. Ever try it on a stubborn bathroom sink? Curious if you’ve had any luck there. As for liquid drain cleaners, I’m with you... those things can do a number on PVC, especially if the clog doesn’t clear fast. Sometimes patience and the right tool save a lot of headaches down the line.
Yeah, the wet/dry vac is a game changer—used it on our bathroom sink last month and it actually worked better than the plunger. Just had to seal up the overflow with a wet rag first. I’m always wary of liquid drain cleaners too, especially since we switched to all PVC. Even the “eco-friendly” ones seem a bit harsh. Honestly, a mix of baking soda and vinegar plus hot water gets most minor clogs for us, and it’s way less risky for the pipes.
I gotta admit, I tried the baking soda and vinegar thing a couple times and it just fizzed up and made my sink smell like a science fair project. Maybe I’m doing it wrong? My kitchen clogs seem to laugh at that combo. Ended up getting one of those cheap plastic drain snakes (the ones that look like zip ties with teeth) and honestly, pulling out a wad of mystery gunk is gross but weirdly satisfying.
I get what you mean about liquid drain cleaners though. After seeing what they did to my old apartment’s pipes, I’m not risking it here either. Still, I think sometimes you just need to get in there and physically pull out the clog... or bribe someone else to do it if you’re squeamish.
Wet/dry vac is genius though—never would’ve thought of that for a sink. Might have to give it a shot next time the kitchen decides to rebel.
I’ve always wondered about using a wet/dry vac on a kitchen sink—doesn’t that risk blowing gross stuff back up if you don’t get the seal right? I get nervous about making a bigger mess. The plastic snakes are my go-to, too, but sometimes I worry about scratching up the pipes or pushing the clog deeper. Ever tried taking apart the trap under the sink? It’s not as scary as it looks, but I usually lay down towels just in case... learned that one the hard way.