Steel yourself: we’re going to talk about drains.
It would be ungentlemanly of me to mention the amount of my ex-girlfriend’s long hair that used to jam up the plug of the shower – so I won’t. But there’s all sorts of things drains can clog up with: skin, grime, bacteria…let’s not dwell. Here are a few tips on prevention.
– Luanne reported on sink strainers a few months ago. Terrifically useful. You have your own, yes? (They’re about $7).
– Don’t use bleach! There are many planet-friendly alternatives: something like the Earth Enzymes (plant extracts and essential oils) sold by Nigel’s Eco Store is what you need.
– The best time to deal with a problem is before it happens. A kettleful of boiling water down the drain once a week will suffice (check plastic pipes afterwards to see if they’ve started to leak). Even better, a few cups of 1 part baking soda to 4 parts hot vinegar.
– Poke a clever plastic stick down the plughole.
Just remember: drain aren’t bad. They go bad. Look after them, and they’ll stay as sweet and clean as the air you breathe.
(You can open your eyes now).
Image: mobile street life
With thanks to Kimberly Delaney at Lime.