Removing Household Clogs
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1401 -- More Projects »
Field reporter Joe Lovitt provides tips for removing or avoiding clogs.
- Keep a spray paint can clog-free after each use by turning the can upside down and spraying it into a garbage can or on a piece of cardboard (figure A) until paint no longer comes out.
- If the nozzle is already clogged it can still be salvaged. Remove the nozzle and drop into a small container of paint thinner. Soak for a few hours, then take a small pin or thin wire and clean the inside of the nozzle from the end that connects to the can (not the nozzle tip). Put the nozzle on a can of spray lubricant and spray a little through the nozzle.
If you find the water pressure dwindling in your kitchen sink, remove the aerator from the faucet by unscrewing it. Mineral deposits have a tendency to build up on the screen and seal it. You can use an old toothbrush and some vinegar to scrub away most deposits. A safety pin also works (figure B). If all that fails, the faucet and/or sink can be easily replaced.
Garage disposals are handy appliances, but they are easily abused. You should never put banana peels, artichokes, cornhusks or celery (figure C) in a disposal because the fibers can quickly wrap around the blades and clog them.
Do not pour grease or fat down the disposal. It will build up in your pipes and clog them. If you do pour grease down it, immediately toss in ice cubes (figure D). The ice will solidify the fat.Instead of purchasing pricey drain cleaners, simply mix a cup of baking soda, a cup of salt, and 1-1/2 cups white vinegar and pour into the clogged drain. Let it soak for 15 minutes and then rinse with a gallon of boiling water.
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