Thread: Are your sinks backed up?

This may be an odd one, but I am in a continual argument with my son, who is also my landlord. Recently my bathroom sink started backing up. Dutifully, I undid the elbow to check for build up or obstructions. Perfectly clear. Told son, he arrived with high power drain cleaner. Applied and in appropriate time drain ran clear and fluidly. Move on two weeks, same problem arising. Just mentioned it to my son and received a non argumentative response that left me a little baffled. His belief is that all of the shaving soap/cream product and stubble going down the drain is causing an almost immediate system back up. Doesn't mind I have all that "goop" but that's the reason and that's that. Obviously I am of different belief (he only shaves twice a week and states he has no problems with a backed up bathroom sink) and say there is a larger cause that must be addressed. I open it to discussion and expect to see everything from bewilderment to constructive observations (and maybe a solution that leaves both my son and me pleased).

We'll see what others come up with but, I have shaved everyday for over a year wet-shaving with either cream or soap and even using pre-shave cream and I've had no issues with sink cloggage. I've also skipped saturdays at times and even with the longer stubble no issues. Anyways, that's my experience...

Same here, 3 years shaving in the same sink, with all kinds of cream & soap, no problem,,maybe something fell in that sink partially blocking it that drain cleaner cannot effect. When you use the drain cleaner, you are just clearing the normal hair,,,etc,,,,maybe something plastic fell in the drain,,,

Only thing that blocks my sink is long hairs hanging up on the pop up actuator arm and then it is just slow to drain. Nothing from anything shaving related.

Bob

Tree roots......
Just saying

I did some reading on this and the result was, surprise surprise, both yes and no. Some have had the same problem as you and said that it was the shaving creams/soaps fault. Some said that they have never had any problems with sinks clogging. So it might, or might not, be the shaving that is the reason for it.

Actually, an old trick for clogging soap is baking soda and vinegar, it will clear something as easily disolvable as soap. Either that are any degreaser type thing will clear it right away....

yea, I have the same thing going on in a 6 year old house... I am the only one who uses that sink... It's gotta be the soap.. I just drano it once in a while when it gets too bad.... and I am a drain clearing mo cracky. I have 3 girls and a wife with thick hair... so I am always draining elbow pipes... Nothing is ever in mine though. It is further down... like soap build up... But I am not giving up the tallow soaps... I'll buy the drano..

Drano is not good for clearing pipes.
None of the commercial products do any good long term.
Phrank is right on the money,.....vinegar and baking soda is best used.
Now this does not address who is responsible for blocked pipes but some pipes are prone to blockage due to improper slope when installed.

I cleaned my drain yesterday since the water was flowing too slow. I think that was due to buildup over time. Not because of two weeks worth of soap. That baking soda and vinegar mix might be something to try next time.