Unclogging the Sink
@BelleStarr (61463)
United States
February 29, 2016 5:45pm CST
First let me tell you I am not handy. Hubs has always done everything. But the Parkinson has made some changes. He can still do many things but he also has limitations.
He just wasn't feeling good today and I had a clogged kitchen sink at the disposal. I have learned a lesson, never throw egg shells in the disposal!!
I went online to see if I could use any drain unclogger with a disposal. Yes there were several that would be fine. I went to Ace Hardware and got some Drano Max Gel and talked to one of the men there.
I came home and followed the directions. I had to do it in twice nothing was draining still. Then as the man suggested, I put water in the sink and plunged the drain. It finally went down. I ran water and turned on the disposal. It worked, sounded right and everything went down.
Success!! Are you handy around the house? Can you come over , lol
22 people like this
26 responses
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I love that the Internet has solution to almost any issue. I was concerned because of the disposal. A normal clog hubs could have managed. I feel good that I was able to move forward on my own, down here we do have my brother-in-law but I hate to call him for every little thing.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
1 Mar 16
@BelleStarr Yes the internet is excellent for finding out pretty much anything.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
1 Mar 16
It is important I think for woman to be able to do some simple chores around the house. This was complicated by the disposal.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18082)
• Torrington, Connecticut
1 Mar 16
that would be the last drain you ever have ajajaja
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Mar 16
Too funny, yes I can unclog a drain and have in the past I've never had a disposal get clogged though. So your egg shells must be tough.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
2 Mar 16
It never occurred to me that they are gooey and that is a bad thing for a disposal. I was so happy when it just wooshed!! lol
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
4 Mar 16
@PainsOnSlate Very cool, they don't even recycle here at our place in Ocala, I was very surprised.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Mar 16
@BelleStarr I actually haven't had one in a house since we moved to Canada. They are not allowed in houses in Ontario because, everything that goes in them should go into compost, not down the drain. Ontario also recycles compost so if you don't want the food trash, there is a container given by Ontario to put out with your garbage every week....Cool eh?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I had to learn by necessity and I have to say it feels pretty good. Long work hours make doing house chores a real chore lol
2 people like this
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
1 Mar 16
@BelleStarr Yes and I always have an option to skip it when I have a helpful hubby 
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Mar 16
@BelleStarr I can appreciate how valuable such advice would be.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I was concerned because I have a disposal in this sink so I check online first to see what products were safe and then the Drano website was very helpful in telling me which one were not only safe but would be correct for the type of clog I had.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16770)
• Canada
16 Mar 16
@BelleStarr They say not to use them anywhere but it seems to work. So far I've been lucky I guess but I don't over do it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
15 Mar 16
I couldn't use the plunger because I was afraid it would harm the disposal, I am not a fan of disposals and I think this one is going to have to go. lol
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I have become quite adept with a screw driver as well. I removed the old curtain brackets from my wall in Florida. I am getting to be rather a handy-woman lol
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
3 Mar 16
@Jeanniemaries UI feel a great deal of satisfaction when I actually do things myself but I know my limits. Those tension rods are tricky, they have to have enough tension to stay up but you also have to be able to get them into position, well done you!!
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
1 Mar 16
@BelleStarr I put up a shower curtain rod and a curtain and liner. It was a tension rod but still it wasn't easy.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
14 Mar 16
I have been doing all sorts if things, hanging pictures, taking down curtain rods and more. I am getting to be rather handy lol
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
14 Mar 16
@BelleStarr Doesn't it make you feel proud, like you have accomplished something new?
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
1 Mar 16
bless yer heart, i couldn't help but giggle a lil though. the hubs here don't touch the plumbin'. he's prone to breakin' such if'n he does.
the only garbage disposal i got's outside :) so've not a clue how to remedy that. i do the bakin' soda/vinegar thingy followed by boilin' hot water 'bout once a week 'round here. ya know, coz the hubs seems to think 'tis alright to put greasy schtuff down the drain?? sigh...
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
1 Mar 16
lol I took over this project because hubs was talking about using a snake which I thought might not be the correct thing to use with a disposal. Sometimes less is more!!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
1 Mar 16
@BelleStarr when the hubs'n i hadn't been hitched too awful many years, the washers'n the faucets'n the kitchen needed to be replaced. a 25 cent washer turned out to cost me a lil o'er $300! first he broke the faucet handle he was workin'n, then when he was replacin' that broke the drain pipe 'n 'fore i knew it i'd all new plumbin'. so yes ma'am, i'm well versed'n the 'less's more' - rofl
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
4 Mar 16
@crazyhorseladycx lol Well my hubs isn't the handiest but our two sons are and in the day, both of my brothers were there to help. lol I will say my hbs does know his limitations and we bought him a book of basic repairs which is actually very helpful to me as well.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18082)
• Torrington, Connecticut
1 Mar 16
I had to do the same to all my sinks since I shave my beard in the sinks and they get clogged sometimes. I use Draino and a bit of clorox and it always does the trick
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
4 Mar 16
Not at the same time I hope, I am always afraid of mixing Clorox with anything..
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18082)
• Torrington, Connecticut
4 Mar 16
@BelleStarr draino first then clorox lol
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I did, I have never been a helpless female but most things I chose to let hubs do!! Now I need to take on some of them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 16
@BelleStarr Yes, I've mostly been the TA (technical assistant) especially since Vince retired.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I had two clogged drains in my bathroom, the tub and the sink. Both drained so slowly they were useless. I used a homemade trick. When the sink was completely drained down to the clog, I poured baking soda around the drain and then vinegar. I then poured boiling water after it. I did each drain twice and both are draining just fine. I've used this technique for a couple of years but I put it off as I didn't have any vinegar and kept forgetting to buy it! Cheap and effective. It works every time. I'm also learning to be "handy". Today I'm changing the water filter outside and cleaning the dryer vent.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
1 Mar 16
Oh the joys of a clogged sink. We don't have a disposal in our sink. Thankfully we didn't need chemicals to fix ours. Good job on getting yours to unclog!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
4 Mar 16
I really prefer not to use chemicals but this one resisted all my home efforts and the disposal added another dimension to the problem.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
4 Mar 16
@BelleStarr sometimes we need to do what we need to do.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
5 Mar 16
I can be if I have to. Normally hubby takes care of it though. Clogged drains are no fun.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
14 Mar 16
NO it was not fun but at least it is a thing of the past now!!
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
19 Mar 16
Good for you. I know that was a great relief.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
19 Mar 16
It was and it is empowering!! With my husband having Parkinsons I need to be able to do some things myself.
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
1 Mar 16
@BelleStarr , sadly, I am not handy either. My DIY is do not DIY. I am glad you got the drain unclogged!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
4 Mar 16
Every so often I like to try something simple to see if I can manage it. If not, I call one of our sons lol or our son-in-law
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
4 Mar 16
lol My husband isn't a curser, I however .......have been known to say a few choice words!!
1 person likes this
