Let's "Whip That Hair" Out of the Sink!

Everyone has experienced a clogged sink at one point or another! And if you're like me, you wash your hair at home sometimes. And for all the mothers with girls, bless your heart, that's on a regular basis. If can be expensive to call out a professional plumber to unclog your drain. This is an easy do-it-yourself project! I put this post in the home maintenance section because it should be done regularly. I don't suggest waiting until the sink is clogged or the water is draining slow. Schedule cleaning out your drain at least monthly, if you can't do it weekly. The more often you wash hair, using a certain drain, the more often you should clean in it.

Here are different techiniques used to clear a drain:

• Plunger: This is the most common way to unclog your sink. A toilet plunger and a sink plunger are not the same. Go to your local hardware store and request a sink plunger. You'll get better results. Plus, I don't want to use the same plunger in my sink as the toilet. You want to use a rag to clog the over-flow drain before you start. Take your plunger and move it up and down aggressively. Make sure you use gloves. What comes out won't look pretty!
• Drain Auger (Snake): Drains snakes have been used for years. But recently they shorten them and started selling them for DIY. This is my favorite! I first saw them on TV. At first I didn't believe it was that easy. My neighbor suggested I try it; and I loved it. I don't like pusing hair and or chemicals down the drain. I like to pull out what I can and put it in the trash. You put the "snake" in the drain. Make a few turns. The hairs catches on and you can pull it out. It's nasty, but it works! Turn off the electricity to the garbage disposal if you're doing the kitchen sink!
• Chemicals: When you use any chemicals you should always were gloves, mask, and eye protection. These chemicals are not only harsh for your skin, they're not good for your pipes. I recommend only using chemicals when you have a bad clog. This is after the "fishing" and plunging doesn't work.
• Remove P-trap: Turn the water off first! I don't want you to forget you took the pipe apart and run water on the floor. This is the last resort for me. If you don't know how to remove the pipe and put it back; don't! Have someone on standby to help you if you get stuck. A pipe wrench is needed. The P-trap is the U-shaped part of the pipe under the sink. Take it apart using the wrench. Clean the pipe. And before you put it back you want to use "plumbers tape" on the threads of the pipe to prevent leaking. Put the pipe back on using a wrench. Get it as tight as you can. Hint: The longer the handle of the pipe wrench, the more leverage you have. And you can get it tighter.

Again, I wouldn't wait for the sink to get clogged before I clean it. You want to keep your pipes clear and clean as possible!

This post is dedicated to www.frofashionweek.com! I would like to say welcome to all the participants of Spring Fro' Fashion Week! Thank you for visiting my blog! Please stayed tuned there is more to come!

Song for today: 'Whip Your Hair' by Willow Smith

Comments

[Dorethia]

Great tips - you never think to clean your sinks before they actually clog up! Smart - thanks for sharing!

[MJ]

Ditto to what Dorethia said! Great tips! Hmmmm..I need a sink plunger.

[Cassadie]

I love that this was dedicated to we the ladies of Fro Fashion Week! Your Zip It gift SAVED OUR LIFE a couple weeks ago!!! Thanks so much!!!

Cheers,
Cb

[Carpet Cleaning Statesville NC]

Thanks for those tips, when you have long hair it's a real nightmare!

[plumbing]

Modern toilets incorporate an 'S','U', 'J', or 'P' shaped bend that causes the water in the toilet bowl to collect and act as a seal against sewer gases. Since flush toilets are typically not designed to handle waste on site, their drain pipes must be connected to waste conveyance and waste treatment systems.