Our house is coming up on 8 years old. In the master bath we have two vanities, a his and hers. For the first year or so all was good, it drained fine with no issues. Then it started getting slow to drain. I took the p-trap apart and pulled out the stopper and it was coated in a black thick smelly slime. I've had to clean it probably twice a year ever since and it's always been the same black slime. Until today, when I took it apart and there was a little black slime but from the p-trap into the straight pipe into the wall was a semi-solid whitish gray gunk. I used one of the plastic hair pulling drain cleaners to pull out what I could. I then used baking soda and vinegar to flush out the drain. I use a green pea size of toothpaste when I brush my teeth and Gillette shaving cream when I shave. Is anyone else experiencing this? And the next question, how do I prevent the buildup from recurring? The vanity on her side doesn't have this issue.

I use Roebic Mainline Cleaner this and like it

https://www.ruralking.com/main...cleaner-quart-roebic

I use a crystalized type cleaner called Thrift. Works very well. But I'd also recommend regular flushing with very hot water.

Thrift drain cleaner

You can get it on Amazon and elsewhere. Works like a charm. I keep a jug under each sink.

Dang...beat me to it.

quote:

how do I prevent the buildup from recurring

I buy the cheap Walmart brand drain cleaner & pour a small amount into each drain monthy. Keeps all drains clean. Kitchen sink & disposal get an additional Affresh treatment (from Amazon) monthly.

I've always said that drain cleaner is the ideal product. You buy it, and do nothing with it except pour it right down the drain, a retailer's delight!

My bathroom drain has the same issue as the OP, compounded by Mrs. A's long hair. I usually have to snake it every other year or so. My clog is not in the trap, something that is fairly easy to deal with, but about 12' down the drain, farther than most homeowner snakes can reach. I get some warning in the drain gradually running slower for a few weeks before flow goes to zero. If I can catch it in that interval sometimes I don't have to snake, but if I treat it, and then it closes up (sometimes it seems like the drain cleaner accelerates this) snaking is an unholy mess, the combo of the ooze+hair+drain cleaner is just nasty, much more so than just the first two.

I have also had success applying compressed air to the drain. If I go this route, I have to get up on the roof to cap the vent pipe, and make certain the seal to the pipe nipple on the drain is secure, at about 40 PSI the clog gives up and decides it would be happier swimming in the Potomac.

Running very hot water, or pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain seems to slow the accumulation of waxy buildup. More than periodic applications of drain cleaner.

I have a similar problem with a similar setup. Last time I took the P-Trap apart it was basically clean. Determined that the issue was straight back in the wall. I reached in as best I could and removed/loosened the buildup there. Put everything back together and then proceeded to run about 20 gallons of straight hot water down that drain via buckets poured into the sink one after another.
That seems to have solved the issue at that was about a year ago.
I think the normal flow out of the sink is slow enough that it allows stuff to build up over time.

Just as an FYI, if you mix baking soda and vinegar or use them at the same time you neutralize the cleaning power of each of them. Apart from creating suds it is no more effective than water.

That black gooey shit is decomposed dirt, soap scum, hair, toothpaste, mouthwash, shaving cream, etc., all mixed together, aging for months. For each of the bathroom sinks, once a year, I'll disconnect the j-pipe and clean out the upper pipe, the wall connecting pipe and the j-pipe with a large homemade pipe cleaner (long stiff wire and paper towels) soaked in 409 mildew cleaner. Put together the plumbing and run hot water for a few minutes.

I bought a Panasonic electric razor after cleaning the clog of shaving cream for the third time.

Yeah, just did the upstairs sink recently. 1/2 cup of baking soda, followed by vinegar. It boils away the scum. Then a kettle full of boiling water. Works great.

Pour a cup of bleach down it once a year

Same problem here. Whenever the sink starts draining slowly, I'll pour a couple pots of boiling water down the drain. That usually dissolves whatever is clogging things up.

Ours is our washer drain. Glugs the kitchen sink & rarely will backflow in the kitchen sink, but doesn't overflow in the laundry room

My snake isn't long enough to find whatever the issue is & don't want to pour a bunch of drano down it.

You should also check any air induction vents, like Studor vents, on the line. It’s probably not the problem, but can be. Especially if you ever hear any gurgling noises from the drain.

quote:

Originally posted by mholmes:
Our house is coming up on 8 years old. In the master bath we have two vanities, a his and hers. For the first year or so all was good, it drained fine with no issues. Then it started getting slow to drain. I took the p-trap apart and pulled out the stopper and it was coated in a black thick smelly slime. I've had to clean it probably twice a year ever since and it's always been the same black slime. Until today, when I took it apart and there was a little black slime but from the p-trap into the straight pipe into the wall was a semi-solid whitish gray gunk. I used one of the plastic hair pulling drain cleaners to pull out what I could. I then used baking soda and vinegar to flush out the drain. I use a green pea size of toothpaste when I brush my teeth and Gillette shaving cream when I shave. Is anyone else experiencing this? And the next question, how do I prevent the buildup from recurring? The vanity on her side doesn't have this issue.

Here's what I learned: it's the shaving that's clogging up the drain. Here's what I've done since figuring this out. I use paper towels anyway in the bathroom for wiping the sink or my hands after washing. I don't throw them away, I put them in a plastic grocery bag.

Now, when I shave, I plug the sink and I rinse the blade off as usual. When I'm done, I allow the sink to drain but at the last few eigths of an inch, I slow down the drain; I don't want any of the hair to go down the drain. Most of the hair end up on the sides of the sink. That's when I used the previously used towels to wipe up the hair and any shaving cream gunk and I throw it in the garbage.

I recently considered using a bowl to rinse the razor and then dumping the water down the toilet and flushing it. But it's just a thought.