Dissolving hair!

[tiggerblue10]

Can anyone recommend a product that will dissolve hair that has built up in a plug hole? I have tried to prevent this happening in the bath but some do get away and over a period of time, block the plug and the water takes longer to drain away.

Thanks :o)

[grasscarp]

We recently had someone unscrew and empty out the u bend. Magic!

[scotman]

You can buy chemical basin trap cleaners. Anything that has sodium hydroxide in it should work.

[RATTER15]

most of the chemical drain cleaners will do that easily.

[tiggerblue10]

I have done that in the past Grasscarp but its quite difficult to fit the bath panel back once removed. The bath was put in before the flooring was done and the fitters didn't account for this and left no gap between the bath panel and the floorboards. I have a corner bath and its already cracked at one end because of this.

[tiggerblue10]

Thanks everybody, I'll try Mr Muscle :o)

[grasscarp]

Sorry to hear that Tigger. I had spent a lot of effort trying to put stuff down the plughole with limited success so the bath always took a long time to go. I got my nephew who is doing work on our house at the moment to sort it out. I am so ignorant I didnt even realise until then that it had a ubend!

[scotman]

If you find something that works use it regularly to prevent build up. It is much easier that way.

[tiggerblue10]

Yep, I've cleaned the ubend in the bath quite a few times in the past and its pretty grim. One time a load of sludge spilt all over the floor. Yuk!

[tiggerblue10]

Very good idea Scotman. I will definitely do that from now on. I nver put bleach down it though as the smell makes me feel sick.

[jno]

next time, get a strainer

http://www.google.co....52e&biw=1943&bih=1022

[Prudie]

That's a good idea jno I might try. I have long hair and the am always having trouble with the bath - Mr Muscle is OK but I never feel it really clears it all out.

[annie0000]

just buy an old fashioned plunger - that clears it no problem.

[Robinia]

I agree with jno, I use the strainers in the kitchen & bathroom.

[alavahalf]

'Blocked sink or basin' ... is quite a common call out .
My first effort will involve using a plunger.
Secondly I have a long wire spring and would use this to try and clear any obstruction further down the waste pipe.
If the spring does'nt go far before getting jammed, if possible I will remove the 'u' bend and clear it out.
You wont mistake the blockage ... it is usually a big plug made of hair, soap and gunge.
If all this fails I usualy go to a local hadware store.. where they keep a special product ...out the back on the shelf... It is called spirit of salts. They will only sell it to you if you specifically ask for it. It's not for the faint hearted and very dangerous.
When I use it I were rubber gauntlets.. a mask and goggles.
What I do is plunge the waste to remove as much water as possible. Use the spirit as directed, pour it into the waste using a funnel and stand back immediately. Dont inhale it and make sure windows are open, and leave the area as soon as possible.
The reason for using a funnel, is the spirit will easily damage chrome and disolves hair easily..!

[heathfield]

Spirit of salts is hydrochloric acid - pretty nasty stuff. Caustic soda is sodium hydroxide, and whilst nasty stuff too, is what's included in most drain cleaning products. Both will dissolve hair, soap, and fats. As to a strainer for the plughole. a wire mesh one, (like the Tala one in Jno's link), will be most effective against hair. But make sure the mesh bowl is shallow enough not to touch the inside bottom of the plughole. If it does, the outer edge will be raised, which will allow hair to pass under it and into the wastepipe.

[Postdog]

Don't waste your money on over the counter stuff you can get from any shop. Go to a plumbers merchants and get a bottle of "shift" or similar. It's acid, and it works, first time every time usually

[Ric.ror]

I always use caustic soda
Sprinkle it down the plug hole
Have a bath and then wait
The warm water washes the soda away

[Cowtipper]

Because when I was a plumber I've dealt with pipes with caustic before. Its best just to bend a wire coat hanger to drag it back out or a toilet snake. If it does back up and you have to call some one out you need to let them know what you've used so they don't get burns.

[tiggerblue10]

Hi everybody, thanks for all your suggestions :o)

About 10 years ago a friend put some chemical (could have been caustic soda or something very strong) down the plughole and it discoloured the chrome around it. The fumes were very strong and I couldn't go in the bathroom for a couple of hours. I don't think I want to do this again specially with baby around so I might try the Mr Muscle stuff and invest in one of those snakey rod things.

Thanks again everyone for your helps :o)