Keeping the bathroom plug holes clear.

flea72

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

I'm sure it can't be that bad - most of it ends up going down there anyway when it's used normally (albeit highly diluted). I'd certainly guess that it's a lot less damaging than bleach, and most people slosh that down plugholes much more regularly. I'd imagine that it'd be a problem if you used it every day, but who's that hairy?? :eek:

i think its more the fact you are putting it down there and leaving it for a while. When using it for hair removal, its just flushed through

Ive never known bleach to rot plastic, just natural fibres - its designed to put down toilets (which has pipework with seals too)

Flea

[Deleted User]

I have a strainer thingy that I bought years ago in Woolworths I think, its round and flat and fits neatly over the plug hole,looks a bit like a flattened out tea strainer with very small holes. I keep it there not only to stop any loose hair or debris bunging the hole up but it the hope it will deter spiders from climbing up into the bath, worked so far so it must be o.k.

thriftlady_2

An old toothbrush collects hair and gunk easily;)

Janey3

Soda Crystals followed by hot water does the trick too.

JillStephens7

Hello, like others I have one of those mini sieve things which prevents some of the hair from going down the plughole in the first place though it doesn't really fit properly and washes out of place quite a lot!

I shove as much bicarb down the plughole as I can, then pour over some white vinegar (which reacts with the bicarb and fizzes so it expands & gets to edge of pipe - also vinegar is a good degreaser). Both are also good at destroying odours so once the vinegar smell dies down (have to do it when OH is out as he can't stand it), you are left with a niff free sink.

Listen out to hear when it's stopped fizzing and pour down a bit more vinegar until it stops fizzing when you do this and follow with a kettle full of boiling water.

I love doing this, much nicer than nasty chemicals :T

thriftlady_2

JillStephens7 wrote: »

I love doing this, much nicer than nasty chemicals :T

Sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid are chemicals.

I'm not convinced that the reaction between bicarb and vinegar causes anything to get clean. It does however make carbon dioxide which is what makes the fizz and I agree it is quite fun.

JillStephens7

I know they are chemicals. I said better then NASTY chemicals, as I think this is much nicer than using caustic soda and stuff found in commercial sink unblockers. Gosh, was only trying to help didn't realise this would be such a critical forum. Didn't join to be picked at over my choice of words. Thinking of leaving this forum now.

Vinegar & bicarb are both cleaners & as I said the reaction between the two causes the mixture to swell which means it reaches to the edge of the pipe - like a mousse might. If you try it, you might find it useful.

thriftlady_2

JillStephens7 wrote: »

Gosh, was only trying to help didn't realise this would be such a critical forum. Didn't join to be picked at over my choice of words. Thinking of leaving this forum now.

Well that would be a massive over-reaction

I'm not criticising you:) just questioning the idea that the reaction between bicarb and vinegar cleans things. I have tried it and don't find it particularly effective. I know that each chemical on its own can be used for cleaning but together I'm not so sure about.

BlimusOreilly

That was fun! Just tried it out with my 10 yr old son. I have a feeling that's a job that he won't mind doing in the future!

Does anyone know where you can pick up large quantities of white vinegar rather than the smaller pickling vinegar jars?

thriftlady_2

BlimusOreilly wrote: »

Does anyone know where you can pick up large quantities of white vinegar rather than the smaller pickling vinegar jars?

Chinese supermarkets are the best places. You can get 5 litre containers of it, also huge buckets of bicarb.