Unblocking a sink? - using Vinegar, salt? costic soda? Lemon?

gemmaking

I saw a way to unblock a sink using some of these, Vinegar, costic soda, lemon, salt, etc

but cant remember what it was. Can you recommend how to do it, using them red things above?

or do you do it? (incase you do it to your own sink)


{I need a method to clean the blocked sink, and Throw away any built up BLOCKED gunk down the sink}

keystone

Remove the trap first and clean it out. Then put it back.

Then caustic soda down the plughole followed by boiling water.

Cheers

elsien

The other option if you've got any bicarb is to put the bicarb down, put on vinegar and let it fizz ( not sure of the quantities though) and then wash down with boiling water.
More "eco" than caustic soda, but possibly not quite as effective.

Plus added sink plunger if you've got one.

Dippypud

Becareful with stuff like caustic soda, it's highly alkeline and can burn like an acid.

This is good info to read first:

http://www.diyinfo.org/wiki/Diggers_Caustic_Soda

If you get a mix wrong it can act like a volcano,with a nasty mess.

Sublime_2

How about washing soda. It may be a bit safer than caustic soda. Its great for removing stains, cleaning up.

27col

There is nothing more eco-friendly than taking the damn sink trap off and then cleaning it properly. Almost without exception they are only hand tight. The fascination for using chemicals to do what is essentially a simple manual task escapes me. If you stop putting fat and food scraps down the sink the problem will virtually disappear permanently. It is just a matter of sticking to a routine when using the sink.

daveyjp

If it's a problem with the trap start by cleaning it all out - or buy a new one. If it's more serious B&Q stock 'One Shot' drain cleaner which is actually 95% sulphuric acid and works a treat.

Ebe_Scrooge

27col wrote: »

There is nothing more eco-friendly than taking the damn sink trap off and then cleaning it properly. Almost without exception they are only hand tight. The fascination for using chemicals to do what is essentially a simple manual task escapes me. If you stop putting fat and food scraps down the sink the problem will virtually disappear permanently. It is just a matter of sticking to a routine when using the sink.

27Col is dead on - remove and clean by hand is the easiest, most thorough and cheapest ( i.e. free ! ) method.

In situations where access is not possible ( a common example being showers ), then caustic soda is a very cheap and effective approach. As others have said above, just be careful how you use it, it IS very powerful stuff and will cause nasty burns if you get it on your skin.

londonsurrey

If you know what kind of stuff is blocking it, then you can tailor the chemical agent. For instance, bleach very slowly degrades hair.

Vinegar eats away limescale build up.

But on no account put bleach and vinegar down together, unless you want to harm someone!

1984ReturnsForReal_2

If you arent fussed about eco just get some sulphuric acid & follow the instructions to the letter

1984ReturnsForReal_2

27col wrote: »

There is nothing more eco-friendly than taking the damn sink trap off and then cleaning it properly. Almost without exception they are only hand tight. The fascination for using chemicals to do what is essentially a simple manual task escapes me. If you stop putting fat and food scraps down the sink the problem will virtually disappear permanently. It is just a matter of sticking to a routine when using the sink.

It doesn't escape me.

The last sink I unblocked involved removing the floor & 6 metres of waste pipe.

I tried acid first before ripping it up. Obviously.