- Can’t tell you how many times I’ve fished out Barbie shoes and random screws from traps.
- That hand-tight plus a nudge is spot on—go any tighter and you’re just asking for trouble with those plastic threads.
- Enzyme cleaners are hit or miss for me. Sometimes they seem to help, but mostly just mask the problem.
- Curious—has anyone tried those little mesh drain catchers in rentals? Do they actually keep the weird stuff out, or do tenants just toss them aside?
Mesh drain catchers in rentals... mixed bag, honestly. I’ve seen tenants use them for about a week, then they end up tossed under the sink with the old sponges. But when folks actually keep them in place, they do catch a surprising amount of hair and gunk—definitely fewer Barbie shoes in the trap. Just gotta remind people they’re not self-cleaning. As for enzyme cleaners, I’m with you—sometimes they work, sometimes it’s just wishful thinking. Nothing beats pulling out a wad of mystery goo by hand, though.
I hear you on the mesh catchers—I've fished out everything from hairballs to what looked like a Lego pirate ship. The trick is getting folks to actually empty them before they turn into their own science experiment. I’ve tried leaving little reminder notes, but half the time they just get ignored. Ever tried those silicone ones with the little “pop” in the middle? Curious if they’re any less likely to end up forgotten under the sink...
I’ve tried those silicone “pop” strainers, and honestly, they’re a mixed bag. On the one hand, they’re easier to clean than the old-school mesh ones—no tiny holes for gunk to get stuck in. But in my house, they still end up sitting in the sink until someone (usually me) gets tired of looking at a pile of soggy pasta bits and mystery sludge. The “pop” feature is kind of fun, but it doesn’t magically make people want to empty them more often. If anything, my teenager treats it like a fidget toy and then forgets to put it back.
I’m with you on the reminder notes. I tried sticky notes on the backsplash for a while, but after a week they just became part of the scenery. It’s like everyone’s brain just filters them out. I even tried threatening to withhold dessert if I found the strainer full, but that only worked until someone figured out I was bluffing.
Honestly, the only thing that’s made a real difference for us is making it a “whoever cooks doesn’t have to clean” rule. Suddenly, everyone’s a lot more motivated to keep things tidy—including the strainer. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
If you’re looking for something cheap and low-maintenance, I’d say the silicone ones are worth a shot, but don’t expect miracles. At least they don’t rust or get gross as fast as the mesh ones. Still, nothing’s truly “set it and forget it” when it comes to kitchen drains... unless you count ignoring the problem until the water backs up and you’re elbow-deep in murky soup water. Been there, done that, not keen to repeat.
Still, nothing’s truly “set it and forget it” when it comes to kitchen drains... unless you count ignoring the problem until the water backs up and you’re elbow-deep in murky soup water. Been there, done that, not keen to repeat.
Yeah, I’ve had my share of “surprise soup” in the sink too. The silicone strainers are decent for the price, but I swear they’re like magnets for leftover spaghetti. I tried the “who cooks doesn’t clean” rule, but somehow my kids always “forget” who cooked. At least with silicone, I’m not dealing with rusty mesh, but I still end up doing the dirty work half the time.