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About once a year I have to take apart the bathroom sink trap and flush a "clog" of slimy, black, gelatinous goop out of it. This only happens in my bathroom sink, and there is no hair in it, which leads me to think the gelatinous mess has something to do with listerine or mentadent, or some combination thereon. The blockage does not build up in the trap, but in the straight-pipe above it, just underneath the sink. The drainage-slowdown is indeed a long-building process, hence the need to clear the blockage only about once a year, which is (of course) a dirty, smelly affair.
1) If you're a listerine user, do you notice anything like this?
2) Is there any other way to remove this clog? Can I pour boiling water down the pipe in an attempt to melt it away?
3) If I leave it long enough, will it turn into some kind of Japanese monster that Godzilla will have to come kill?
1) If you're a listerine user, do you notice anything like this?
2) Is there any other way to remove this clog? Can I pour boiling water down the pipe in an attempt to melt it away?
3) If I leave it long enough, will it turn into some kind of Japanese monster that Godzilla will have to come kill?
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Re: Black goop clogging sink
Fri, September 11, 2009 - 1:21 PMSounds like bacteria build up. A cup of bleach every month or so should do the trick -
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Re: Black goop clogging sink
Fri, September 11, 2009 - 2:45 PMInteresting idea.
I should also add that drano (of any variety) doesn't seem to help remove the clog.
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Re: Black goop clogging sink
Fri, September 11, 2009 - 3:31 PMIt's everything. Hair, soap scum, bacteria, Think of your sink more completely in the context of the yearly load it's gotta handle.
It's a lot. Anything heavy that doesn't get washed down ends up in the traps
Dilute Bleach yah, hot water yah, Vinegar yah,
Drano - - not if you have any metal pipes don't you dare.
If it's all PVC then fine, but what about that last stage that is underground and the MOST expensive to repair - - on the way to the town sewer or your septic tank? Chances are you got iron in there somewhere unless it's brand new construction. And even then - - unless you know. Be careful with anything that is intended to sit in place.
The Mechanical Snake is the Number one best drain cleaner.
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Re: Black goop clogging sink
Fri, September 11, 2009 - 9:53 PMBut it's a comparatively tiny clog just before the trap, Cliff. And there is no hair in it. And no other sink in the house does this. It's just weird. -
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Re: Black goop clogging sink
Sat, September 12, 2009 - 7:56 AMIt's bacteria. using the Listerine has probably created a strain of bacteria that is immune to the Listerine, Bleach is the only 100% sure killer of bacteria, ( that you would have access to).
Don't dilute, use 1-2 cups, let it sit for at least 30 min, and flush with boiling water. -
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Re: Black goop clogging sink
Sat, September 12, 2009 - 8:45 AMSounds more like The Blob than Godzilla.
Look at this:
what product(s) do you normally use at that sink that you don't use at any other sink in the house? Some special cosmetic or chemical formulation ? that goes down there and maybe interacts with some other, maybe organic thing that also passes through that place? that maybe unintentionally winds up as a slime -generating reaction? between biochemical reaction to industrial chemistry? -
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Re: Black goop clogging sink
Sat, September 12, 2009 - 12:11 PMI'll try the bleach in the future. I also have some of the Lysol disinfecting gel. I may give that a go.
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