Teen bathroom blocked sink hell!

[coffeerevelsrule]

My dc have sole use of a bathroom as I have an ensuite. I do enforce regular cleaning of it but it has come to light that the sink is completely blocked. Water isn't draining at all. I have used soda and vinegar to no avail, though loads of delightful black bits are now swimming about in the water. I've also used hot water and washing up liquid, with the same result.

Any other recommendations? I've bought fairly expensive products in the past that have done nothing for less serious cases than this and have always had success with the above, but have obviously acted on past cases a lot sooner!

Help - please!

Plunger. Honestly. Simple and usually v effective.

Can you get to the U bend? Unscrew it and see if that’s blocked.

You need a drain snake ☺️

Also, don't b scared to get physical. Bowl underneath, unscrew the ubend pipe and poke around.

Plunger. And one of those extended pipe cleaner things you get on Amazon to see if it's movable.
Then it's time to unscrew the s bend thing☹️

Keep us posted!

What is it blocked with do you know?

If its dissolvable then the Mr muscle sink unblocked followed by a plunger seems to work here

Have u tried a cupful of bio active detergent, Ariel or similar, into sink over plug hole followed by kettle of boiling water? Maybe add cup of vinegar or bicarb. Hopefully that will do it.

God I've never gone so far an unscrewing a U-bend before...

Have been plunging frantically, I forgot to say. All that's happening is it's all splashing out of the overflow thing.

But I do want one of those snake things.

Remove the u bend. Its easy to do and I have to confess this is not just a teen problem. God knows how all my hair gets down the sink but Ive had to do this as no drain unblockers worked on it.

This.

You need to put some rubber gloves on, put a bucket underneath and unscrew the u bend or bottle trap (depending on what you have). Empty it and clean it out. Brace yourself for stink and goo.

Don't people bung a bit of caustic soda down sinks anymore?

There are some vacuum type plungers to clear the blockade then use caustic soda

It's just a pipe. Make it easier by getting rid of all the standing water..scoop, sponge whatever then put down towels, a bowl and just do it. Plumbing is just logic...much easier than electrics cos you can see what's happening

Mr Muscle sink unblocker.

My (adult)) sister blocked all the drains in my elderly mothers house when she was staying there and muggins had to sort it out even the most stubborn one was solved with mr muscle sink unblocker and a coat hanger (that's all I had to work with)
I suspect it was mainly hair and soap scum but also it turned out to be mud as she washed her boots in the basin.
It took a few goes and a bit of time but it worked on all of them.

Yeah. Maybe have a gentle poke with a coat hanger.

Where can you buy that? Is it in the bakery bit?

I have a very awkward sink in my guest room, it’s shallow and a pain in the arse. I think it’s down to the angle of pipework. It always gets blocked after a few days of light use. I have to use one of the big 1l bottles of Mr Muscle orange drain unblocker on it every month, plus a full unscrew and clean out of the trap once a year or so. Total pain in the arse.

No! It’s in the nasty chemicals section. Very different to bicarbonate of soda.

The only problem with this and the Mr muscle is that if it doesn’t work, you’re left with a u bend full of pretty horrible stuff.

Thanks for all these tips - and reassuring to know it's not just them!

Judging by the sickly smell of mint, now mixed with vinegar, it's mainly toothpaste etc. They are sloppy feckers for sure.

Oh right!! I thought it was that stuff they put in arm & hammer toothpaste.

Yeah don't want a sink full of chemicals mixing I guess.

Christ no, you don’t want to eat it! It’s available from hardware shops like B&Q

No, please don't eat caustic soda. It's totally different to Bicarbonate of soda from the baking aisle.

Hardware store usually. B&Q, Wilkos that sort of place.

Coffee scoop out what you can from the sink, then take the u-bend or trap off. Clean out what you can, then another round of your prefered method.

How old are they ? Can you make them unscrew the u bend and clean it?