What NOT to Do when the Kitchen Sink is Clogged

Ever have one of those times where you know just what to do and yet avoid doing it and try to find someway around "just doing it?" Stubbornness. Stupidity. Procrastination. Stupidity. Yup. That's pretty much the reason.

It really wasn't a tough job. It really wasn't much of a time consuming job. It was a dirty job. The kitchen sink was clogged. That was it. I know how to fix it. My husband would have called a plumber, but not me. I am a self-proclaimed "do-it-yourselfer." I was raised by a very capable single mom and I learned early how we can take care of ourselves and not have to depend on others to fix our simple problems. I tend to get in it up to my elbows before I will admit defeat (which doesn't happen too often).

So, what do I do when the drain clogs up in the kitchen sink? First, I called the landlord. It took three calls to find out that clogged sinks are not covered and it was up to me. They could have called me back sooner! Hubby (at school in another state) says to call the plumber. Right, and waste that money? No way.

Meanwhile, the sink sits a day while the dirty dishes pile up. I finally get to the store to get the 80 ounce jumbo size of Liquid Plumr. I pour about 2/3 of the thing into the sink, after all, it was a BIG clog. Why would I actually follow the directions? I waited over an hour to see any results. A few bubbles had escaped and a bit of junk had risen to the surface of the water left in the sink. I really needed to get this thing moving. I didn't have time to wait. So, I got the plunger. not

recommended.> I was forceful, but not out of control and had very little splashing. None came out of the sink. Of course, only gunk came out of the drain and not enough apparently, as it was still clogged.

Hmmm? I headed to the garage and got the bucket I had originally bought for cleaning the fish tank (don't worry about the fish. They died a long time ago...). I ran water into the sink to dilute the chemicals, which by this time had filled the downstairs of the house with what were most likely toxic fumes. I used said bucket and scooped out as much water as I could and poured it into the bathroom sink (remind me later that I need to scrub that sink).

I put the bucket under the offending pipes. Then, I went to the cabinet and got the huge pipe wrench. Guess what? The pipes under the sink in new houses are PVC and have PVC joints. Didn't need the wrench much, just to loosen the things. OOPS! Turned it the wrong way several times. Got things back on track and removed them with my hands.

Nasty, chemical-filled water came gushing out as I prayed fervently, "Please don't let the bucket overflow!" It didn't. I dumped the so-called water out in the bathroom sink again. I checked the two pipes I pulled away and sure enough, the garbage disposal wasn't doing it's job. I cleaned out the putrid pasta (I think it was pasta, anyway) and dried the pipes with paper towels and reassembled the contraption. Turned on the water and we were in business again! I did it.

Procrastination caused my sinuses and throat to burn. I had to send my asthmatic son to sit on the covered front porch in the rain so he wouldn't have trouble breathing. We had to open most of the downstairs windows to air out the house before the cats died! My fibromyalgia didn't like it too much either and I had to go upstairs and lay down for a couple of hours before I could stand up again. Now, my house is very humid, warmer than I would like and almost free of fumes.

Folks, if you know what is right, you can do it and you know to do it - DO IT! Procrastination is not the friend of anyone. It always seems to cause more problems in the end.