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I've got a clogged sink, and have been reading the labels on a bunch of different products lately. I'd always assumed that they were a strong acid of sorts, which would dissolve whatever sort of material was built up in the pipes. But I've noticed that a lot of these products specify that they're non-corrosive, so I'm not sure what other sort of mechanism may be at play here.

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[-] DrBob@lemmy.ca 68 points 1 month ago

Most drain cleaners are not acids but bases - same basic idea but the other end of the pH scale. Bleach is an example of a corrosive base you're probably familiar with. Bases were used because they were more compatible with the solder that connected copper pipes in older homes. For non-corrosive cleaners they fall into a couple classes:

Fizzy things. These loosen clogs by bubbling them apart. They are typically made by mixing a weak acid with a base - hello vinegar and baking soda! The acid may help a bit with dissolving some clogs. These can take a while

Enzyme based cleaners. An active enzyme will digest some of the bonds in hair and other components of the clog. These can take hours to be effective so don't be in a rush.

Temperature based. Fats often make up a big component of clogs. Something as simple as boiling water can do a lot to loosen up a clog. There are fancier mixtures that will warm up the pipe to try to get things flowing.

[-] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 28 points 1 month ago

Also, adding heat can really help a drain cleaner work.

I pour a pot/kettle of boiling water down the drain, add the cleaner, wait whatever it says to on the bottle, then dump a second pot of boiling water down to rinse.

[-] deranger@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Bases were used because they were more compatible with the solder that connected copper pipes in older homes.

Bases are much more effective at breaking up organic matter than acids. You can pour concentrated acid on your hand to little effect if you rinse it off quickly. You will not be able to do this with strong bases (think that scene from Fight Club). Strong bases rapidly destroy organic matter.

If you need to dissolve a body, use lye, not some acid.

[-] moonlight@fedia.io 6 points 1 month ago

Yep. Strong bases feel soapy to the touch, not because they are, but because they're literally turning your skin into soap almost instantly.

[-] Chozo@fedia.io 20 points 1 month ago

I learned this about bleach a while back! I remember wondering why bleach felt slimy to the touch, even though it looked like it had roughly the same consistency as water. Turns out it wasn't the bleach that was slimy, it was me. I am the slime.

[-] SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 month ago

This was a horrific fact to read

this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2024
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