# Not Draino **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939 "2003-05-17T20:08:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/1 "2003-05-17T20:08:44Z")
I have a sink that, though not actually clogged, drains reeeeealy slowly. What can I use to clear the pipes that _isn’t_ Draino? I’ve tried boiling water, but that didn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/2 "2003-05-17T20:09:53Z")
Call a plumber and have him/her snake the thing. It shouldn’t cost too much. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/3 "2003-05-17T20:34:07Z")
Cheap, non-lethal choice: baking soda and vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/4 "2003-05-17T20:59:38Z")
You can buy a consumer-grade snake at any hardware store cheaper than a plumber’s visit. As long as you can get it down the drain, it always works. I couldn’t get mine past the curvy trap once, but got up on the roof and threaded it down thru the vent. Worked great. There’s also often a cleanout plug somewhere in the waste line where you can get to the sewer system innards. ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/5 "2003-05-17T22:38:29Z")
If possible, I would just take the trap out and clean it out. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/6 "2003-05-17T22:50:10Z")
That won’t work, **Herm&,** if the clog is farther down than the trap. Although it’s a good start. ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/7 "2003-05-17T23:08:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Musicat \* > \*\*That won’t work, **Herm&,** if the clog is farther down than the trap. Although it’s a good start. \*\* Actually, in my experience the trap is where most clogs are. ---
**Author:** ![jsleek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@jsleek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsleek)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/8 "2003-05-18T00:33:04Z")
I’ve used a plumber’s helper on sink clogs. You have to cover the overflow hole to generate any pressure. Often the plug is caused by gobs of hair and I have to remove the stopper-lever-dingus to get the hair out (with a hook made of wire). So I remove the stopper, have someone hold a finger over the overflow hole, and pump like crazy. ---
**Author:** ![jsleek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@jsleek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsleek)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-draino/175939/9 "2003-05-18T00:56:14Z")
I’ve used a plumber’s helper on sink clogs. You have to cover the overflow hole to generate any pressure. Often the plug is caused by gobs of hair and I have to remove the stopper-lever-dingus to get the hair out (with a hook made of wire). So I remove the stopper, have someone hold a finger over the overflow hole, and pump like crazy.