The Pirate's Wife

DIY - Drain Cleaning Update

Okay, so I didn't really grab my drill purse; I don't even have a drill purse - yet.  But I did gather a bucket, paper towels, a large plastic bag, rubber gloves, and something that looked like a small, flat screwdriver but turned out to be some kind of file.

It wasn't so hard after all, although it was kind of nasty. I began by just unscrewing those white things around the pipes. (I do apologize for my lack of technical plumbing terms!) They were not so tight that I couldn't use a little muscle and remove them by hand.  Note:  "righty-tighty & lefty Lucy".  

A small amount of water came out when the pipes were pulled away and that was the purpose of having the bucket underneath.  

Ewww!  This is the gross "stuff" that has been clogging my drain and causing trouble.  But that isn't all that has been causing trouble.  This was a good place to begin the cleaning, though.

 I took the bits of pipe to the laundry room sink and began scrubbing the inside with a toothbrush and some powdered cleanser...with bleach.  

Again, none of this was difficult, just not pleasant. I also took the file tool and shoved some paper towel pieces down the drain to clean from the top to the uppermost pipe. Unfortunately, the paper towel pieces became lodged into the pipe - the copper part that I didn't have any access to except from the top or from the bottom.  Here's where it got difficult and I thought I was going to have to call a plumber.

But I just didn't want these guys to show up!

So, I began in earnest to jam and dig down the drain with that file tool.  Then I came up from the copper pipe end and just kept poking at it.  Out came one piece of paper towel covered in nastiness but one more piece was not letting loose.  I made sure my trusty bucket was in place and turned on the hot water, all the while jamming with the file tool and an old toothbrush.  That did the trick!

 I am so proud of myself!  I have an unclogged drain in my bathroom and now it is running freely.  It's not my favorite chore but it I can handle it.  

 All that work in the bathroom has not created any desire to go to plumbers school; neither did it inspire me to start on the garbage disposal in the kitchen.  But look how well this vase works to catch the drips!  That will work for awhile...until inspiration motivates me to dig in and get this job done, too!

Garbage Disposal Leak in the Kitchen