The drain in my bathroom sink has been draining more and more slowly for a while now. (I’m embarrassed to admit even to myself how long this has been building up.) In my bathroom sink, I realize it’s probably clogged with a lot of hair. I’ve used chemical drain cleaners before and I don’t think they work very well. They might make a small difference for a short period of time but they don’t actually “Clear” the drain. Can you imagine a chemical that was strong enough to dissolve hair? What environmental impact that would have being flushed down our drains? I’d rather not! I found a tool that lets me clean out a drain without the use of harsh chemicals!
It’s a disgusting job but you can use a hooked plastic wand thing-a-majig and clear it out. This one is called a Zip-it and costs $2.50 at your local hardware store.
It’s super easy to use — but you might want to put on a pair of gloves and maybe cover your nose and mouth with a bandana – old time western movie style.
- Pull out the drain plug
- push the Zip-it down into the drain
- pull it back out –the hooks grab onto whatever hair and crap have clogged the drain
- you might give it a couple goes to get ALL the gunk.
Did I say disgusting? It is SO gross, I almost threw up!
Seriously — D I S G U S T I N G!
But that sucker worked like a charm!
Have you ever used one? Did you throw up? uuuhhhhhhh (shudder and gagging again just thinking about it.)
MarieRoxanne says
I am so glad someone decided to put something “gross” on their blog… not everything we is pretty.
My tub is draining slowly and by the time I finish my shower, I am ankle deep in water. So will be getting that $2.00 thingy at the dollar store and using the baking soda vinegar rinse to get rid of the soft gunk every week so I don’t have to deal with this again.
MarieRoxanne says
not everything we DO is pretty.
Sandra says
I guess I’ll go put some baking soda and vinegar in now to top it off! It drains like a dream now though so I don’t think I need it. But just for a little added security. 😉
Ida says
Ewwww! I always just used Drain-o but I guess this is the best method. Not pushing gunk down, actually pulling it out. It’s a gross job, but someone has to do it!
Debbie says
OMG! I totally need one of these for my bath tub! I have long hair and it clogs up FAST. $250 sounds like a worthy investment and better than using needlenose pliers!
Sandra says
Fhew! I had to come check to see if I typed $250 for that thingamajig instead of $2.50! Funny typo. LOL But yes, $2.50 IS a good investment. Won’t break your drain plug and is way cheaper than calling a plumber to do it. 🙂
Debbie says
Yes, I saw that but couldn’t edit, so I left it!! I have my $2.50 ready!!!! LOL
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
I love your blog! I read it religiously but never commented. I had to comment here though because I bought one of those drain “snakes” (very similar to your little gadget here) and totally gagged the every time i brought all the stuff up from inside the drain. I don’t know how i didn’t puke. Another AMAZING way to unclog a drain that I read about and successfully used is to put a towel over the overflow hole on the side of the sink and then use a plunger. It works like a charm if the sink is so clogged that it’s filled with water.
Beth says
I have seen the plunger/towel method done. There seemed to be a problem with “splattering” of dirty water coming out of the drain with the plunger method. I’m not sure if that is *always* the case. Maybe it was a “user error.” But as a precaution against germ-spreading, I’d probably want to clear and cover the area, and plan on disinfecting afterwards!
Beth says
PS. Sandra, I love the little white “doggie ringholder” in the photo above! Where did you find him? 🙂
Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick says
I gave up Draino years ago when I found this! I LOVE it. It is disgusting but it works. 😉
kristin says
I think I have to stick with Draino. I would definately puke and I seriously doubt my wonderful husband would be willing to dive in to do that job for me. He’s not THAT wonderful. He just got done remedying his electric toothbrush issue. He is giving the “condom-thing-a -ma-jigey” (amazon?) a try. I about puked at the sight of that grossness! We ARE talking bathrooms…one thing leads to another…black gunk/toothbrushes 🙂
Angela says
Oh goodness. I’ve gotten into the habit of cleaning the bath tub drain every few months. I just use some needle nose pliers to pick up the hair hanging onto the drain. Funny enough, hair balls don’t bother me one bit, blood is a different story. Anyways great post! I love that you posted photos of the nasties in your sink. 😉
Sandra says
Hair balls! I can handle blood but not hairballs. I seriously did gag. A LOT.
lori jones says
thanks for the tip!! oh yeah and the gag reflex works good now also.!! hahaha
my turn to go and get that drain thingy. had one that had like a bottle brush on the end but now can find it ugghhh.
Lisa says
Who knew?! I have always used the needle-nose pliers trick too – what a pain! Perhaps we should all buy stock in Zip-It now that it’ll be sold out in stores! 😉
Sandra says
LOL I just saw a WHOLE bunch at Home Depot today when I was there…but that’s not a bad idea! 🙂
Tena says
Hmmmmmm. I got stuck at “pull the drain plug”. Mine won’t come out. Is there some secret to it?
Sandra says
I guess you don’t even need to pull it out. I did but the snakey thing is really skinny so it would fit without pulling the drain stop out. That’s what about 10 people have mentioned today so I believe it would work. Try it with the drain stop in.
Sharon Mobley says
I have been using one of these in all my bathrooms for years. They work the best. I keep one in each shower. They are less then $2 at walmart. Make sure you pick up a couple.
Nancy Williams says
I have one and it’s one of the best $3.00 investments! The only problem is that I gag like crazy trying to get all that rotten hair off of it!
Jake's a Girl says
Oh! I have one of those to use on the laundry room sink. I just haven’t gotten brave enough to use it because I know my tummy won’t be able to handle. I know it’s just hair and it’s our hair but …
I’ve decided to get hubby to do it. A plan I can follow. 😀
Jake’s a Girl
Sandra says
hair and oil and dirt and gross stuff that grows on all that crap…uuugh -gagging again! Good idea to have hubby do it. Wish I would have because I now have the gag reflex whenever talking about hair.
Janet G. says
About 15 years ago, my hubby bought me one of those small augers wit.h a coil on the end of a winding metal tape because we have had some major bathroom sink and tub clogs. This little gadget looks very effective, though. Oils from make-up, other beauty and grooming products, and body skin and oils add to the problem as well. A good preventive practice is to pour boiling water down the drains ever one or two weeks. An electric kettle comes in handy for this.
Caralyn225 says
Oh Sandra!! I feel your pain girl!! Bless your heart. I almost gagged just looking at your pictures. Looks like seaweed 🙂
Sandra says
I gag every time I read a new comment and have to scroll down through the pics to reply. like right now…… LOL 🙂
Diana W. says
Have one. Use it often. Been there. Done that. I’ve been a nurse for 20 years and was a scrub tech in the Operating Room for years before nursing school. It’s gonna take more than that to make me gag! That said? EWWWWW! I have long dark hair and it clogs our 100+ year old drains all the time. What is all the rest of that disgusting gunky black stuff that comes up with all the hair??? I mean seriously? Yuck-ah-rooney!
Having done so many times, I have an additional suggestion: A bowl a water or better yet a 5 gallon bucket filled about 1/3 or 1/2 with water. Wear gloves, pull of gunk, barb stick thing in water before putting it back in the drain. I find that the easiest way. I then follow up with baking soda, vinegar and boiling water to clean any remaining gunk out of the pipe. Thanks for sharing the pics, not many would have the cojones to do so. Just one more reason I think you are Gal Fabulous!!!
Sandra says
I’m going to use the baking soda and vinegar tip now too. That “other” stuff is what makes it SO gross. I can handle just hair but there’s definitely some added ingredients on that thing when it comes up!
On to cajones…I think we all know this blog isn’t JUST about pretty pictures. LOL I’ll take one for the team to pass on useful information. Thanks for your support. It would have been REALLY embarrassing to share something this “personal” and hear crickets……………….. I love that you all got my back!
Denise says
My husband has nick named this process “DE-WOOKIE THE DRAIN” He did it only two weeks ago but I can tell he only did the drain stop because once again it is not draining. I know he used a bottle of liquid drain-o. But it must be time to add this tool to the mix so for once and for all the drain works right. On my next walmart run! Let you know what I think. Thanks for sharing!!!
Lori R. says
I have had one for a couple of years. Bought one for each of my kids. They work like a charm!
Julie W says
Definitely going to get a couple of these. The drains were nasty when we moved in, and my long hair and tendency to shed excessively, coupled with 3 very dirty little boys (and 1 big one!) makes for gag-inducing drain cleaning. And I make The Man do it. But I have to hear about it. In detail. And he’s like a cat, leaving me disgusting little presents to remind me how much he loves me.
Heidi says
If these are 2.50 I say make them one time use and avoid pulling off the nasty hair!
Rory Ancell says
Absolutely love these. Used them for the order of service and table plan for my wedding tomorrow!