Grotty bath and slow emptying sink

maman

If you don't get the desired outcome with soda or vinegar, use those drain cleaners like Mr Muscle (or similar from cheap shops) in the bath and kitchen sink every few months. Ideally I leave it overnight. What can happen is that grease builds up in the sink and it's hair and soap in the bath. No problem with plastic pipes.

carriebradshaw

for the bath, washing up liquid a green scouring pad (I don't use a new one I just take one that's been in used in the kitchen for a while and put the new one in there instead) and a bit of elbow grease works wonders, doesn't have to be expensive stuff either, the cheap stuff works just as well and will bring it up a treat with a good rinse after scrubbing.
For the sink as others have mentioned good old soda crystals and hot water

Doody

If you can borrow a hand held steam cleaner that would be good for the bath. Tbh, if it is your responsibility, why not get the boys involved so they know how to do it? Rather than go round clearing up after them.

The ultimate for drain clearing in caustic Soda. Follow instructions, wear gloves and do not be surprsed that it gets hot. It is far stronger than any of the 'drain clearing' ready mades.

dktreesea

How about Vim? Not in the main supermarkets these days - we got ours from Wilko and B&M. Just sprinkle it all over the bath, adding a bit of water so it goes on like a paste, leave it overnight the wash off the next day.


To unblock the pipes we just used a liquid drain unblocker from the supermarket. Poured it down the drain, left it overnight than ran the hot tap in the morning. It worked okay.

bouicca21

Another vote for washing soda for the sink. My mum used to use it regularly (I think once a month). If it doesn't work then up the ante and use Mr Muscle.

A word of warning though - in my last house nothing worked and eventually we got a plumber/drain man out. He removed a huge and disgusting ball of fat from the drain. Reckoned it had been building up since the house was built in the 1930s!

[Deleted User]

Used white vinegar and soda bicarb and a hefty lump of elbow grease ,boy it was hard work but well worth it

yellowbear

I found 50/50 hot white vinegar and WUL mixed together in a spray bottle and sprayed around the bath and left for 15 mins or so, then scrubbed with a washing up sponge brought the bath up like new.

lessonlearned

See you've got to Grips with the bath ok.

Re your sink. Have you got a sink plunger. I had to buy one for this house after trying all the usual with no success. I think it was around £10 and it worked far better Than the fancy hose thing I also tried.

And miles cheaper than a plumber........:rotfl:

The plunger should shift most blockages then regular use of soda crystals or caustic soda.

And of course don't pour fat down the sink because it will solidify with all the other muck and gunge to form a solid blockage which would neeed a plumber.

[Deleted User]

Better than a sinkplunger a son-in=law who took the thing apart and cleaned out the 'trap' which was a bit bunged up.I don't use fat and if I get any thing like that I wil pour into an old tin and solidify then dispose

The vinegar and WUP liquid sounds an idea I have told the boys to make sure they spray the bath down after use.Its the downstairs bathroom, and they live in a town house on three floors so I don't do climbing stairs much, so because I see it I have to give it a good scrub.I will try the vinegar and WUP liquid as well on Monday when I am next round looking after them.

lessonlearned

Ha ha.....good to have a handy son in law. :rotfl:

De-gunking the sink trap was my late husbands job. Bless him.

When we recently had an issue with a slow running sink I bought the largest plunger I could find and it did the trick. Dont know how it would work if it was completely blocked though.

I do what you do......I put anything a bit fatty in the fridge and then when the fat solidifies on top I scoop it off and wrap it up before disposing of it.

True story.

In our city there were problems with the drains along a stretch of the high street. They had to dig the road up ....turned out it was caused by large fat deposits from a certain known burger chain which has A golden arch in its logo.:eek: