Those mini inspection cameras are actually more fun than I expected—like sending a tiny robot on a plumbing adventure. I borrowed one from a friend when I thought my bathroom sink was possessed (spoiler: just a wad of hair and a rogue bobby pin). It did save me from tearing apart the vanity, but honestly, it’s not something I’d use often unless you’re dealing with old pipes or mystery blockages. As for foaming drain cleaners, I tried one once and all it did was make the clog smell like artificial lemons... not exactly a win.
I actually swear by those foaming drain cleaners, but maybe it depends on the brand? Had a gnarly kitchen clog last year—grease and who knows what else—and the foam stuff cleared it up overnight. The lemon scent was just a weird bonus. Maybe I just got lucky...
Had a gnarly kitchen clog last year—grease and who knows what else—and the foam stuff cleared it up overnight.
I get the appeal of those foaming cleaners, but I’ve had mixed results. For greasy kitchen clogs, I usually go old-school: boiling water, then baking soda and vinegar, followed by more hot water. If that doesn’t work, I’ll grab a drain snake. The chemicals sometimes just push the gunk further down for me. Maybe it’s just my old pipes, but manual methods seem to last longer in my experience. The lemon scent is a nice touch though...
The chemicals sometimes just push the gunk further down for me. Maybe it’s just my old pipes, but manual methods seem to last longer in my experience.
Totally get that. Older pipes can be a wild card. I’ve had tenants swear by the baking soda/vinegar trick too—sometimes it works, sometimes you’re just left with a science experiment. For stubborn stuff, I usually just go straight to the drain snake. Less mess, less guesswork. The lemon scent is nice, but I’d rather have clear pipes than citrus vibes...
Totally get that. Older pipes can be a wild card.
I hear you on the “science experiment”—I tried the baking soda/vinegar thing once, and it fizzed up but didn’t clear anything. Ended up with a foamy mess under the sink. What finally worked for me was unscrewing the trap and fishing out the hair/gunk by hand (rubber gloves are a must). Not glamorous, but it’s pretty effective, especially in older plumbing where chemicals just seem to sit there. The drain snake is my next go-to if that doesn’t do it.
