Caustic soda for bathroom?

[SnoozeTheCat]

At our office the handyman showed me once how AMAZING caustic soda and boiling water is to clear a blocked drain.

Since giving birth my hair has been falling out and though we've both tried to keep on top of it, the bath/shower has become pretty blocked and gungey. Supermarket/Homebase unblockers haven't helped at all.

Is caustic soda safe to use at home? And where would I get it from?!

[dirtyprettything]

Not as strong but I find bicarbonate of soda + vinegar works very well and is a nice science experiment to show the kids - just stand well back!!

[elephantfan]

I wouldn't use caustic soda at home.
Why don't you put a filter over the plug and remove the hair after each shower?

You can fit a plug that lifts off - this is what I have in my shower. After showering, lift off the filter, stick a fork down, twirl it as if picking up spaghetti, pull out all the hair and put it in the bin.

[strawberrydaquari]

Hair removal cream? Haven't used it myself but read on here if you squeeze some down the plug it'll just dissolve the hair

[LostMySanityCanIBorrowYours]

I use it weekly on plug holes and outside drains. Just follow the directions. I use cold water though, not boiling water. Keeps the drains clear and fresh.

There was drain fly when we moved here and there's no way I'm letting them bastards back into my house.

[PigletJohn]

caustic soda is not very safe as it will eat holes in clothes, skin, hair, eyeballs, and the drain man's fingers if not warned.

Also the stomach of anyone who eats or drinks it, resulting in a very regrettable outcome.

[cozietoesie]

I use soda crystals (Dri-Pak brand - about £1 a packet) for plugholes, drains and various other household tasks. It's not the same chemical composition as caustic soda and while I'm still careful with it (as with most cleaners) at least I don't need to go around putting up HazChem signs before use and suiting and gloving up. I wouldn't use caustic soda myself at home - it's just not safe enough in a normal domestic situation.

[cozietoesie]

PS - and I'd also recommend investing in a pair (or two - they're pretty cheap) of extra long/industrial tweezers. A multiplicity of uses around the house and good for getting out any difficult gunk and clogs from plugholes that the filter hasn't caught. (The soda crystals, if used regularly, should prevent the build-up of body fat, skin, hair conditioner, soap etc etc - all those lovely goodies that lie around in drains.)

[Fizrim]

Would also recommend soda crystals, cheap and very useful - I have used them for years.

[CtrlAltDelicious]

A friend unblocked my plugholes with caustic soda once, after the washing machine waste water started coming up through the bath plughole. It was AWESOME. He was deadly serious about me keeping back and fair enough as it spat as it went down the hole, but God it did the job!!

[bythewindsailors]

I use caustic soda, but you must be extremely careful with it.
I mix it in a bucket of cold water and pour down the drain. You must always add the soda to the water snd not the other was around.
It was the only thing that worked when my dh shaved in the sink and blocked it with his whiskers (yuk)
You can find it in Robert dyas.

[cozietoesie]

Oh it works all right - it's just a question of whether you want something so potentially difficult around the place. I'd rather not have such strong chemicals around without appropriate training and controls - I tend to go for prevention rather than cure - but it's your call really.

[PigletJohn]

I'm happier with washing soda crystals, which are good for keeping drains, sinks, washers and cookers clean (though none of these chemicals are good for aluminium, which may include cooker trim)

[No134]

Caustic soda is the nuclear option for blocked drains (use cold water rather than boiling, though). Fine if used responsibly (rubber gloves, eye protection, well-ventilated area, and well away from children). You can buy it in most hardware shops, and it's much cheaper than all the branded drain cleaners.

Spirits of salts does the same job for toilet limescale, but again, not for the fainthearted.

In both cases you need to be 100% sure on safe storage and use.

[SnoozeTheCat]

Thanks for replying, everyone.

I've bought some soda crystals and long tweezers and will get to work with these first.