A cleaner alternative than standard bathroom sink drains?

[Flyover]

It seems like no matter what, the bathroom sink drains in my house inevitably end up clogged with black goo. It clings to the inside of the flanges and tailpieces, and totally gunks up the stoppers.

Every few weeks or so, the sinks start not draining well until I go in and manually remove this goo, scraping it into the trash. There's usually some small bits of hair woven into the goo but primarily it's a slimy residue from (I'm guessing) soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, and spit. Gross.

Is there a better way to handle this stuff so I don't have to deal with it like this? A different kind of sink stopper? An easily concocted household chemical I can splash or sprinkle down the drains once in a while? Installing small disposal units under each sink? (That last one was a joke...I guess.)

 

[Snoonyb]

Leaving the water running, has a flushing affect. Haven't cleaned a trap in decades.

 

[Eddie_T]

My theory is that hair starts the process. My stopper is a heavy weighted one and I just leave it out unless I need to contain water in the basin. It's also easy to pick up and rinse after using. It might be something to consider if replacing .

Just thinking, mine was purchased back when fixtures were brass and made in the US. Cheap Chinese stuff may be all that's available nowadays.

 

[Flyover]

Leaving the water running, has a flushing affect. Haven't cleaned a trap in decades.

I like the elegance of this solution -- but how long must one run it? We naturally run water along with tasks like handwashing and toothbrushing, so how much longer must the water run? Do you run it before also?

 

[Snoonyb]

I wash everything in hot water, so it's a minor waiting game, 10 too 50 sec.

With both H & C, I rinse the sink after use, as a courtesy to whoevers next, so it's arbitrary.

 

[Eddie_T]

When we were using the basin more to contain water I discovered another problem. When the plug is suddenly pulled the basin water also backs up somewhat into the basin overflow channel. I detected an odor from the overflow opening and I devised a way to fill the channel with an enzyme cleaner.

 

[BuzzLOL]

My sink stoppers are connected to a lever that gets a hair build up on them and, as Eddie mentioned, then the goo builds up on the hair. I keep one of those $2 18" plastic pricker things in it's package under the sink to clean sink drains and tub drains with.
Occasionally dump a kettle full of boiling soapy water in the sink to help keep goo melted and floating on down.

 

[Sparky617]

I saw a video that recommended a pop-up stopper instead of a lever activated one. Along with changing out the tail pipe to remove the actuator for the pop-up drain which is the first place hair collects. Mine take longer than a month or two to clog up. A regular maintenance item can be to put baking soda down the drain followed by white vinegar. Also, pouring boiling water down the drain every couple of months seems to help. I typically forget to do either and am stuck with manually pulling the stuff out like you. I think I may have to go put on a pot of water to boil and do this maintenance right now.

 

[Flyover]

Thanks for these ideas y'all.

I have a pop-up stopper ready to install on one sink; do they really cut down on places for hair to collect?

 

[Sparky617]

This guy does a lot of good videos on Facebook. Here's the one I was referencing in my response. It has been my experience that I never have a clog in the trap, it is always gunk in the tailpipe that clogs the pipe.

 

[Sparky617]

He's on YouTube too.. I've only watched him when he pops up on my FB feed.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=home+renovision+diy+

 

[Flyover]

Please take political discussion to a different thread

 

[BuzzLOL]

Please take political discussion to a different thread

Politics is one of the things damaging our homes now...