clogged sink

[j-grice]

What is recommended when unclogging a kitchen sink without harming the plastic drain pipe? will soda and vinegar do any harm? Thanks for any help
Jerry

[Branson_N_Tucso]

Once cleared, put on your thinking cap and watch what you been pouring down it. May eliminate future problem.

[Jamster]

I recently had a clogged kitchen sink. I took apart the p-trap, snaked thru the plastic pipe, and finally found the flexible hose was getting caught in the slide out. I simply had to pull the hose out of the way when it got caught during retraction of the slide. I never would have thunk...

[chuckftboy]

Any drain cleaner that comes in a plastic bottle won't hurt plastic pipes.

[ScottG]

Just today I used a Zip-it on our two bathroom sinks. I just pull the pop-up and run it down - no need to take apart plumbing. It's long enough to get through the P trap and does a great job about as fast as chemicals but with a little bit more effort.

[ksg5000]

Remove the P trap and clean out the gunk. It's very easy - don't need any tools and reinstalion is a snap. If the P trap is clear then you may have more complicated problem.

[j-grice]

Thanks for all the timely answers. I just wasn't sure if the chemical stuff would damage the pipes. I will proceed from here with good info.

[10forty2]

Vinegar has worked for me very successfully in the past. It takes longer for it to work, but it will clear a drain. I've used it in shower drains to dissolve hair, and I suspect it will dissolve food or other organic clogs as well. It just takes a while for it to work. Pour it in the drain and let it sit. Put more if needed. It's a natural product and won't hurt the pipes or tanks. And, as referenced, it anything spills when you are dumping the tank, it won't hurt anything there either. I'm not a big fan of the chemicals available today. Not only can they cause severe skin/eye burns, they can and DO also put off noxious gases that in a confined space like an RV can be deadly.

[Dick_B]

Any hardware store or home center has cheap plastic `snakes' that will unclog the drain if you don't want to get down and work on the plumbing. They tend to be one time use items.
Ace has something called Cobra Zipit that is a long plastic wand with backward facing teeth that will pull out the `stuff' like hair but won't do anything for grease; approx $4.

[DutchmenSport]

The pipes in your camper are the same materials used in your home. There's nothing different about the two. Any chemicals that are safe in your house are usable in your camper too.

However, if you use caustic chemicals (like Drano and such), remember, that goes into your holding tank and then it has to be dumped somewhere. The possibility of getting acid burns on your skin or the risk of splashing that (Drano) on the ground or even the concrete at a dump station are a real possibility. THAT is probably the only difference.

Whatever you'd use in your house, you can use in your camper. Personally, I'd get a sewer drain snake and snake it.

[Old-Biscuit]

Remove 'p' trap and clean it out

Soda/vinegar will not harm..but never had much luck as it is difficult to get soda down far enough to do any good when it reacts with vinegar