Great tips, especially the baking soda and vinegar trick—I swear by that one myself. But I'm curious about the hot water advice. I've heard mixed things about running hot water down the drain after using the disposal. Some folks say cold water is better because it solidifies grease, making it easier for the disposal to chop up and flush away. Hot water supposedly melts grease, letting it coat pipes further down and causing buildup later on.
Personally, I've been sticking with cold water for years and haven't had any major issues yet (knock on wood...). But now you've got me second-guessing myself a bit. Has anyone else experimented with both methods? Would love to hear if there's a consensus or if it's just one of those plumbing mysteries we'll never fully solve...
"Personally, I've been sticking with cold water for years and haven't had any major issues yet (knock on wood...)."
Haha, I feel you on the knocking on wood part—plumbing karma is real. Honestly, I've seen both methods in action, and here's my two cents: cold water is usually the safer bet. Hot water might seem logical at first (melting grease sounds good, right?), but trust me, it just pushes the problem further down the line. Had a customer once who swore by hot water until one day his pipes decided they'd had enough and threw a greasy tantrum—talk about a messy breakup.
Cold water helps solidify grease bits so your disposal can chop 'em up and flush 'em out easier. Sure, it's not foolproof, but it's definitely kinder to your pipes in the long run. But hey, if your pipes ever do start talking back, let me know—I could use some backup convincing folks to stop pouring bacon grease down the drain...
Haha, plumbing karma is definitely a thing...I've seen some pretty wild pipe tantrums myself. Curious though, anyone ever tried those enzyme cleaners for grease buildup? Heard mixed things, wondering if they're worth the hype or just another gimmick.
I've given enzyme cleaners a shot a few times, mostly in older properties where tenants cooked a lot of greasy foods. Honestly, results were mixed. They're decent for maintenance and preventing buildup if used regularly, but once you've got a serious clog or thick grease lining the pipes...they're not gonna magically clear it out. Had to call in the pros more than once despite regular enzyme treatments. Might be worth trying as a preventative measure, but don't expect miracles if things are already backed up.
Gotta disagree slightly here—enzyme cleaners aren't just preventative. I've seen them clear some pretty gnarly grease clogs, but patience is key. If your pipes could talk, they'd probably say "give it time, buddy... miracles take a minute." Still, pros exist for a reason.
