Keeping Drains Clear

CEBU, Philippines - There's no question that clogged-up plumbing is one of the most irritating problems in the household. It can be messy and makes the normal home life uncomfortable. Taking a shower, for example, can be quite a challenge if runoff water does not drain smoothly. And it is yucky to have drain water flowing through the kitchen.

Compounding the problem is the fact that good plumbers are not easily available these days. That is why many homeowners are forced to do it themselves. Sadly, most people are clumsy in doing the plumbing by themselves; the task is just not within their skills or they don't have the chance to learn much about it because clogged-up plumbing does not happen all the time.

But once the plumbing problem starts, it gets worse and doesn't stop until it gets fixed properly. It can get on a vicious cycle. And many other things can go wrong at home. With moods wrecked by leaking or runoff water, family members easily snap.

James and Morris Carey share their useful ideas at www.dummies.com.  They write: "One of the absolutely best ways to prevent slow or clogged drains is to be careful about what you put into them. Cooking grease, coffee pulps, hair, and soap scum are four of a drain's biggest enemies." Therefore, they advice homemakers to "do whatever you can to avoid introducing any of these items into a drain."

And they have practical suggestions:

• Save cooking grease in an old coffee can or cardboard milk container. Then dispose of it in the trash.

• Throw coffee pulps away in the garbage or add them to your mulch pile.

• Use a screen or drain-grate to cover the drain's opening and minimize problems with hair and soap scum. Visit your local plumbing-supply or hardware store to study the options appropriate for your particular fixture. Take along a picture of the drain system to better explain your needs to the storekeeper. Most filters and screens can be simply laid in place.

The Careys affirm that regular cleaning helps. To keep drains in the home running freely - and prevent odor - they present these methods:

• Run hot water through the sink after each use. Hot water keeps oils in food products running down the drain, rather than building up on the interior surface of pipes, which can make drains sluggish and lead to clogs.

• Throw a handful of baking soda into the drain and follow it with hot water. Baking soda is a terrific cleaning agent, and it's also great for absorbing foul odors and leaving your drain pipes smelling like a rose. Okay, maybe not like a rose, but a lot better than they otherwise would.

• Pour one cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes; then chase it down with very hot water. Vinegar is a wonder cleaner. It contains acetic acid, which acts as an excellent organic solvent in removing organic buildup of crud in pipes.

In homes where clogging is a regular problem, the Careys recommend a technique that they say works on drains in sinks, showers, and tubs. It only needs half cup each of baking soda, salt, and vinegar and a couple quarts of boiling water. It is to be done just before going to bed, to allow the solution to sit overnight, giving it more cleaning horsepower:

1. Pour the salt and the baking soda into the drain.

2. Add the vinegar and let the concoction foam for about a minute.

3. Chase with at least two quarts of boiling water.

For sinks with garbage disposals, the Careys have another trick:

1. Fill an ice-cube tray half-full with vinegar and top it off with clear water. Vinegar alone won't freeze well. Be sure to mark the tray clearly - you wouldn't want an unsuspecting family member to end up with a mouthful of vinegar.

2. Turn the disposal on and then throw in the cubes. Vinegar is a mild acid that cleans the disposal and the drain while the ice literally chills and scrapes grease off its walls.

Those that don't like the smell of vinegar may chase the cubes with one sliced lemon. The Careys say it can make the kitchen smelling great.

Lye is the active ingredient in most popular store-bought drain cleaners, like the common liquid soza available at most supermarkets. It dissolves soap scum and hair effectively. The Careys describe the process to be simple - all one has to do is pour some down the drain, chase with a small amount of water, and wait for the chemical to do its job.

While small amounts of lye are reasonably safe, going for the liquid soza may be the easier and safer way. It would be tricky for the ordinary homemaker to determine what amount of lye is safe. Besides, it may be easier to find liquid soza than to find lye hereabouts.

In using strong drain cleaners, the Careys advice to take proper caution. These aren't safe when used in large quantities. One must make sure to follow the directions on the label to the letter. (FREEMAN)