“That ‘gurgle’ when it finally clears? Best sound in the world.”
Right? That gurgle is like music after fighting with a stubborn clog. I’ve lost count of how many times people call me out, swearing their drain’s busted, and it’s just a mesh catcher packed solid. I’m with you—those gels are more trouble than they’re worth, especially in older houses. Ever had one eat through a trap? Not pretty. Curious if anyone’s tried those silicone catchers instead of mesh... do they work any better or just collect nastier stuff?
I switched to a silicone catcher a few months back, actually. It’s easier to clean than the mesh ones, but yeah, it still collects some gross stuff—maybe even more hair and gunk, honestly. At least it doesn’t rust or get bent out of shape. I’d say it’s a step up, but you still have to stay on top of cleaning it or things get funky fast.
I tried one of those silicone catchers after getting tired of the metal mesh ones rusting out, and honestly, I’m still on the fence. Here’s what I found:
1. Pull it out every couple days, or it gets slimy real quick.
2. If you cook with a lot of oil, it seems to trap more gunk than the mesh ever did.
3. It’s way easier to rinse off, I’ll give it that.
Still, if you forget about it for a week… yikes. Not sure there’s a perfect solution, but at least it beats fishing out a rusty mess.
I hear you on the slime factor—those silicone ones get pretty gross if you forget about them. I’ve swapped out mesh for silicone in a few rentals, mostly because tenants kept letting the metal ones rust into the drain. Silicone’s not perfect, but at least it doesn’t leave sharp bits behind. I do wish someone would invent one that cleans itself, though… until then, I guess we’re all stuck with regular rinsing duty. At least it’s less hassle than dealing with a full-on clog or a plumber bill.
I do wish someone would invent one that cleans itself, though… until then, I guess we’re all stuck with regular rinsing duty.
Right? If only self-cleaning strainers were a thing—I'd be out of a job, but my hands would thank me. Honestly, regular rinsing is annoying, but it beats fishing out a hairball the size of a rat from the pipes. Silicone’s not perfect, but at least you don’t get those rusty metal shards stabbing your fingers. Small victories...
