Stop sink getting blocked

hampshirebabe

I've just had to unblock my sink, it was disgusting, so I'm after some tips to stop it getting that bad again. Its my hubby that does it, he loves his bacon sandwiches and then washes the pan with all the fat straight in the sink. I've moaned so much but he takes no notice, so I'm thinking I need to do something on a weekly basis, or he can, but whats best? Bicarb and vinegar, although neither are that cheap in sainsburys to do weekly, bleach, disinfectant?

amandada

I use soda crystals followed by a kettle of boiling water to keep the sinks clear-so far so good!

paddy's_mum

How about you don't do anything except offer to make a cuppa while he unblocks the sink?

SailorSam

Up to now you've been lucky that it is only the sink blocked.
Imagine what the drains must be like, sooner or later you're going to have to get the professionals in to clean those, and that want be cheap.
And think what you're doing to the environment.
You need to get your OH to wipe everything with kitchen roll or even old newspaper, even things as small as cleaning the butter knife, it all adds up.

Olliebeak

Can you collect amounts of fat in an old plastic drink bottle, then put the cap on and throw it out with the household rubbish. I know they should be recycled BUT one a week to protect the drains wouldn't be too naughty - the plan being that if you're going to throw the fat away, it needs to be contained in SOMETHING to prevent it leaking all over the rubbish bag and dripping into the bottom of your wheelie bin.

Personally, I grill everything (but I do know lots of fellas like fried bacon on sandwiches), wipe the pans with kitchen roll and then stash all bits of rubbish in tetra-packs to throw in the rubbish bin later.

hampshirebabe

If I left it to him, I'd still be waiting next year!
I don't think you can recycle cooking fat round here, so I tend to put mine in tubs like you and throw them out.
Its that age old dilemma woman kind has had for centuries, do you keep nagging till eventually they do it once, and then you never hear the end of how much housework they do, or get on and do it yourself?!

Olliebeak

My poor OH is terrified to throw anything out without first consulting ME on the subject :rotfl:. He knows I've got a real 'obsession' about the rubbish bin not getting messy/smelly.

I dread to think what happened last week when I was away - better not even go there .

rosalie-lavender

amandada wrote: »

I use soda crystals followed by a kettle of boiling water to keep the sinks clear-so far so good!

I do the same thing. Soda is very good at dissolving grease. I use it for all sorts of things, keeping the sink clear, cleaning my oven shelves and it brought up my baking tins a treat. The outsides were so grimy I was going to buy new ones. A strong solution of soda took off all the baked on grease and they came up like new.

Butterfly_Brain

Hot Water and Soda Crystals weekly will keep drains clear

nanokitten

You can get a cheap version of mr muscle sink unblocker in home bargains etc for about 89p half a bottle of that left over night every now and again works a treat.
I second the collection of old fat in a special fat container, some water boards used to send out a carton. If it is bacon fat and will set hard you can pour it into an old tetra pak and when cool put it out for the birds.
You could also ring dynorod and get a quote for doing the job next time, The only thing that gets DSD to take any action is when he finds out the price of a proffessional doing it!

firework

totally agree with nanokitten on this one. cheap version of mr muscle worked wonders for me to unblock bath plughole and pipes.

and i would definatley get a price for the job of clearing your drain and tell your OH. when we moved in here within two weeks our drain was already blocked and when our local prof. drain buster came around we discovered that the previous owner had been pouring chip fat (probably lard or similar) directly down the kitchen sink. on top of which they had then poured paint down when redecorating before they sold up.

when the fat cools down as it travels through your pipes it solidifies into a nice chunky block of crud, and then as your pipes narrow everything else that goes down them starts to stick to the crud (think hardening arteries) until eventually you have a total block. ours was about 8 - 10 inches thick and the full width of the outside drain so about the size of an elongated football.

cost us £50 to clear - cheaper than some i am sure, and the drain guy said he sees it all the time. he also said he would be back to clear it again in 6 months as he was sure we would do the same (cheeky sod!). 3 years later and our drains are nice and free flowing.