Those mesh drain screens are a mixed bag for me. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- They do catch a ton of stuff—way more than you’d expect. Food scraps, little bits of pasta, even the occasional twist tie.
- But if you don’t clean them out pretty much daily, they start to smell. Fast.
- Some brands rust after a few months, which is annoying.
- I’m always a bit skeptical about whether they actually stop grease from going down the drain, though. Liquid fat still slips right through, so it’s not a total fix for that issue.
I tried using newspaper to soak up grease, but yeah, the ink thing makes me hesitate. Lately I just pour cooled grease into an empty can and toss it. Not glamorous, but it works.
Honestly, nothing beats just being careful about what goes down the sink in the first place. Mesh screens help, but they’re not magic.
I totally get what you mean about the mesh screens starting to smell if you don’t clean them out. I learned that the hard way—left one for a couple days and the whole sink area reeked. I switched to a stainless steel one that’s supposedly rust-proof, but we’ll see how long that lasts.
About grease, I’m with you on the can method.
Same here. I tried those compostable paper towels, but honestly, the can is just easier and feels safer for the pipes. I wish there was a better way, but being careful with what goes down the drain is really the only thing that’s worked for me too.“Lately I just pour cooled grease into an empty can and toss it. Not glamorous, but it works.”
“I tried those compostable paper towels, but honestly, the can is just easier and feels safer for the pipes.”
I’ve managed dozens of units, and honestly, the can method is what I recommend to tenants too. Grease down the drain is a nightmare over time, no matter how careful you think you’re being. Stainless screens hold up better than mesh, but even those need a regular rinse or they’ll start to stink. One thing I’ve found—if you run a bit of hot water after doing dishes, it helps keep stuff from building up, but nothing beats just keeping food and grease out of the pipes in the first place.
I’ve tried the hot water trick, but I swear my pipes still get that weird smell if I don’t clean the screen every few days. Anyone ever use baking soda and vinegar for maintenance, or is that just a myth from the internet?
Baking soda and vinegar isn’t just internet nonsense, but it’s not a miracle worker either. I’ve used it as a maintenance thing between tenants—does help with smells, but won’t clear out a serious clog. Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Hot water is good, but if you’ve got gunk stuck to the sides, you need more muscle.
- Baking soda + vinegar: foams up, loosens some grime, helps with odors. Won’t fix a slow drain if it’s already bad.
- Clean those screens often. Gunk loves to hide there.
- If the smell keeps coming back, check the trap under the sink... sometimes stuff collects there and no amount of fizz will fix it.
Honestly, nothing beats taking things apart and giving them a real clean now and then. Not fun, but it works.
