Drain snakes are underrated, honestly. I’ve used them a few times and yeah, it’s gross, but they get the job done way better than most chemical stuff. Enzyme cleaners just seem to delay the inevitable if your pipes are old. Still, nothing beats just keeping food scraps out in the first place… easier said than done though.
I hear you on the drain snakes. I just bought my first place last year and had to deal with a nasty clog in the kitchen sink. Tried the enzyme stuff first—honestly, it just made the water smell weird and didn’t do much else. Ended up getting one of those cheap snakes from the hardware store and yeah, it was gross, but super satisfying when all that gunk finally came out. Still trying to train myself (and my partner) to scrape plates better... old habits die hard.
Funny you mention the enzyme stuff—I tried that in one of my rentals, thinking it’d be the “clean” solution. Ended up with a kitchen that smelled like a biology lab for two days, and the clog just laughed at me. Honestly, I’ve seen tenants try everything from boiling water to soda and vinegar, but nothing beats getting in there with a snake. The real challenge? Getting folks to stop dumping bacon grease down the drain... that’s a battle I’m still losing.
I hear you on the bacon grease—my folks used to keep an old coffee can under the sink just for that. I’m always nervous about using a snake, though. Ever had one get stuck or mess up the pipes? I worry about making things worse.
I get being cautious with a drain snake. If you’re using one of those hand-crank types and take it slow, it’s pretty hard to do real damage, especially with metal pipes. The risk is higher with old, brittle PVC or if you force it. I’ve never had one get stuck, but I always go easy and back off if it feels jammed. For what it’s worth, enzyme-based cleaners are a good preventative—less harsh on pipes and the environment. Grease is a nightmare, though... best to keep it out of the drain entirely.