Gunk underneath kitchen sink (can I get the whole pipe unit changed?)

ThisIsWeird

The stuff around the collar on the incoming pipe will likely need gently scraping away. Try a craft knife blade laid flat like a chisel - work it at a low angle back and forth. Watch out for it scratching the base surface. Or, a filling knife, or wallpaper scraping knife. Just check it has a good clean blade edge.

Daisy_84

ThisIsWeird said:

Ah! That looks like old adhesive, the stuff at the joints possibly being excess 'solvent' used to seal the joints, whereas the unusual diagonal stripe looks more like it was left behind by tape that was once there.

This is purely a cosmetic issue - it doesn't indicate that anything is 'dirty' or gunky.

How to remove? Yes, you could very easily replace that 'L'-shaped pipe section with nice clean new, carefully solvented! A cracking DIY task if you, or a family member is up to it? A push-fit elbow could even be used, tho' they are not quite as neat. Expect a plumber to give you a funny look if you ask for this to be replaced for only cosmetic reasons...

Or, have you tried Jif? Or even 'sticker residue remover'? 

Or, you can even lightly sand it smooth, and give it a coat of multi-surface paint such as Zinsser AllCoat.

I'd start with the Jif. Cut a longish strip of material, apply the Jif, and use it like a towel being used to dry your back; wrap it around the pipe once, not overlapping itself or it'll stick, and 'saw' it back and forth.

Thank you. What about the bottom part that fixes to the floor of the cupboard. That grosses me out the most. I’ve cleaned it many times but more gunk appears still. It makes me wonder if there’s a fault and needing to be replaced.

ThisIsWeird

I referred to that collar 2 posts up, but have to say I'd assumed it also was adhesive. Are you saying you DO successfully manage to clean it, but it then comes back? If so, then I'd agree that there's summat 'gross' going on! Does it feel damp? Any 'wet' on your fingertips?

Could you take a close-up photo of it please?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

big pic,

just give it a good scrubbing with an old toothbrush and bleach.

ThisIsWeird

It looks like badly-applied sealant, or stuff that is shrivelling up. 

Is it 'rubbery' in feel, Daisy? Try a bluntish/sharpish implement such as a wooden spatula, and see if you can scrape it off. I see no purpose for it.

Almost certainly used to stick that collar down, but the visible excess can be removed.

TadleyBaggie

If you think that is gross, better not look under my sink then...

plumb1_2

Looks like there’s small leaks from the trap, nuts need nipping up. Then test, then clean.

MikeJXE

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

big pic,

just give it a good scrubbing with an old toothbrush and bleach.

Thats a cover to hide the hole in the cupboard base

You can either try to clean it up or, remove it and clean it up or buy a new one clean the base up and refit 

ThisIsWeird

MikeJXE said:

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

big pic,

just give it a good scrubbing with an old toothbrush and bleach.

Thats a cover to hide the hole in the cupboard base

You can either try to clean it up or, remove it and clean it up or buy a new one clean the base up and refit 

D'oh! The two halves just unscrew, and can almost certainly be peeled off the base.

Easy to clean or even replace, Daisy.

GDB2222

plumb1_2 said:

Looks like there’s small leaks from the trap, nuts need nipping up. Then test, then clean.

This is the problem, isn’t it. There’s a small leak somewhere around the U bend, and a little bit of waste water from the sink is dripping down. It just happens to congregate around that collar. 

Just get someone in to tighten all the connections, and the leak will stop. There won’t be any ‘condensation' which is actually leaking water, and the gunk will stop building up.