Pipe cleaning gear

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

Soldato
Joined
22 Oct 2005
Posts
2,893
Location
Moving...
I've replaced the wastes on a couple of sinks recently and was shocked by how much grime/sludge lined the waste pipes. I was expecting a bit of crud in the u-bend obviously, but all the waste pipes had a ~1mm thick coating of brown/green sludge.

I cleaned up everything I had access to, but obviously there's a lot of pipework in the house that I can't get to which presumably also has this same sludge building up. Any recommendations on what I can use to clean them up before I start getting blockages?

I don't know whether to go down the chemical route, or one of those cable/wire things that you shove down the plug hole and wiggle around. I've never used the latter as I thought they were more for clearing blockages than cleaning, but perhaps you can get some kind of brush adapter on the end? Obviously they're only a few metres long though and my pipes have longer runs than this.
 
We have a plastic hooky thing which is excellent for pulling clumps of hair out of the bath/sink.
 
Put some soda crystals down the drains, not to be confused with caustic soda. These are milder.
Worked well for me when I had a slow draining kitchen sink. Had no problems since.

cleanhomeexpert.co.uk

Caustic Soda vs Soda Crystals: Understanding the Key Differences - Clean Home Expert

Discover the difference between caustic soda and soda crystals, two commonly used chemicals. Learn about their properties, uses, and safety precautions. Find out which one is best for your cleaning or DIY projects.
cleanhomeexpert.co.uk cleanhomeexpert.co.uk


But yeah if it's not slow to drain don't worry about it.
 
Last edited:
Unless you get a blockage don't bother, it will just build up again in a few weeks.

It's what U-bends were invented for, keeping waste pipes clean was impossible so they gave up and put something in that would stop the smell from returning.
 
Our kitchen sink has the stinky smell first thing in the morning when we first run water down it and I cannot work out where it is coming from. I've put white vinegar down it, removed the u bend, which was very clean, and checked the outlet outside the kitchen is clear. Yet the smell persists only first thing when we initially run water down it, after that it is fine all day.
I've ordered some 12% hydrogen peroxide to put down it overnight so hopefully that will shift whatever's causing it.
 
cuke2u said:
Our kitchen sink has the stinky smell first thing in the morning when we first run water down it and I cannot work out where it is coming from. I've put white vinegar down it, removed the u bend, which was very clean, and checked the outlet outside the kitchen is clear. Yet the smell persists only first thing when we initially run water down it, after that it is fine all day.
I've ordered some 12% hydrogen peroxide to put down it overnight so hopefully that will shift whatever's causing it.
Click to expand...

Does it have an overflow as crap can sometimes backup in there , our washing empties in to same waste as the kitchen sink above the u-bend and if both were emptying at same time it would force stuff up the over flow slightly . I just check it regular and flush out as needed
 
have used small diameter 1/2" wire core bottle brush for direct sink/basin/bath wastes down to ubend, poking it through top grill.
and used reasonably rigid mains flex with rag tied securely onto one end with internal cores for stuff like washing machine waste tubes.
 
pinkpound said:
Does it have an overflow as crap can sometimes backup in there , our washing empties in to same waste as the kitchen sink above the u-bend and if both were emptying at same time it would force stuff up the over flow slightly . I just check it regular and flush out as needed
Click to expand...
Good point, only a dishwasher is connected to this sink drain but the smell is still there every morning even when we haven't used it, which is only twice a week anyway.
As stated the pipes, when I took off the u-bend it, appeared to be clean so it is perplexing.
 
cuke2u said:
Good point, only a dishwasher is connected to this sink drain but the smell is still there every morning even when we haven't used it, which is only twice a week anyway.
As stated the pipes, when I took off the u-bend it, appeared to be clean so it is perplexing.
Click to expand...

Might worth running dishwasher on a hot wash and some dishwasher cleaner whilst empty as the pipes can get a bit stinky
 
pinkpound said:
Might worth running dishwasher on a hot wash and some dishwasher cleaner whilst empty as the pipes can get a bit stinky
Click to expand...
We have done this when we first moved in, just looked, the sink is not a place I go to often ;) and the sink hasn't a overflow anyway.
 
cuke2u said:
Good point, only a dishwasher is connected to this sink drain but the smell is still there every morning even when we haven't used it, which is only twice a week anyway.
As stated the pipes, when I took off the u-bend it, appeared to be clean so it is perplexing.
Click to expand...
Post some pics of the pipework.
 
200sols said:
Post some pics of the pipework.
Click to expand...
The pipework is the same as any other under a sink, all the connections are where they should be aside from the developers plumber having a love for plastic pipework, it's everywhere, and the u-bend is a standard one. It's been there for twenty years before we moved in as far as I can see as it's the same as under the sink in the utility room. Should I be looking at anything in particular?
We had a local kitchen/bathroom/plumber in to fit our water softener and he noticed nothing unusual so, as stated before, it's rather puzzling.
It can go all day without a pong, despite water going down it, but I wonder if the previous occupants were ground coffee drinkers.
Hopefully some baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will shift it.
 
cuke2u said:
The pipework is the same as any other under a sink, all the connections are where they should be aside from the developers plumber having a love for plastic pipework, it's everywhere, and the u-bend is a standard one. It's been there for twenty years before we moved in as far as I can see as it's the same as under the sink in the utility room. Should I be looking at anything in particular?
We had a local kitchen/bathroom/plumber in to fit our water softener and he noticed nothing unusual so, as stated before, it's rather puzzling.
It can go all day without a pong, despite water going down it, but I wonder if the previous occupants were ground coffee drinkers.
Hopefully some baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will shift it.
Click to expand...
Well you say its standard but clearly not right that's why I asked for pics. As you say its fine after running water it sounds like something is draining the u bend and allowing the smell to come through.
 
pinkpound said:
Does it have an overflow as crap can sometimes backup in there , our washing empties in to same waste as the kitchen sink above the u-bend and if both were emptying at same time it would force stuff up the over flow slightly . I just check it regular and flush out as needed
Click to expand...
Agree with this - I've had smells, noises and drain flies at various points all relating to a grimy overflow. In general I found spraying bleachy water in the overflow helps to keep it from getting too nasty.

I did once have to force a bottle brush flexy thing down the bathroom sink overflow covered in thick bleach, but that was in a shared rental that no one had ever cleaned in the 10+ years since it was installed.
 
Last edited:
200sols said:
Well you say its standard but clearly not right that's why I asked for pics. As you say its fine after running water it sounds like something is draining the u bend and allowing the smell to come through.
Click to expand...

Yes that was my theory as well but as I stated there is nothing unusual about the drain system that could empty water from the u bend. I've been around sink plumbing long enough to know where everything should be connected and it is, after all, only requiring rudimentary plumbing knowledge.
If the u bend was draining then the smell would be present after water block was removed, not after water was poured down it.
That is how u bends work and this one has been that way, as far as I can see, for twenty years now.


I did clear all the leaves away from that outside drain last week as it was pretty well covered with them, and I've watched that outlet and I could see no water, or drips of, coming out of it. And it can't go anywhere else either.

Maybe the piping that leads to the u bend has got some coating on it that's producing this smell when it first gets water on it?.

I have taken photo of the piping, for what it's worth, but because of the antiquated setup this forum has, from any others I use, I can't just attach or upload them which makes it clumsy to effect.
photos.app.goo.gl

New item by Chris Catt

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl

@LuckyBenski there is no overflow present in the sink.
 
Looks to me like draining water past the U bend will suck air from the two appliances waste pipes and that would be the source of the smell. Presumably especially smelly if it's been sat overnight.
 
LuckyBenski said:
Looks to me like draining water past the U bend will suck air from the two appliances waste pipes and that would be the source of the smell. Presumably especially smelly if it's been sat overnight.
Click to expand...
Nope it doesn't smell overnight, when I first go into the kitchen in the morning there is zero odor from either sink. It is only when water is introduced into either sink do we get any smell. We then still get a slight odor throughout the day, but when water isn't going into the sinks the odor seems to disappear after a while.
To establish if the u bend is emptying I'll take it off tomorrow morning before the sinks are used.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom