Date: 1 September 2017. Drain
Cleaner.
© janice142
The sink in my galley began to
drain slowly. Although I am careful to scrape any food stuffs over
the side before washing dishes, I know that I miss sometimes.
Keeping the sink and shower drains clear is easier when I stay on top of it. There are
a few "tricks" that keep the water flowing well. Here are mine:
You should
NOT scrape food stuff overboard
just anywhere.
In areas such as where
I'm at with good tidal flow overboard is fine. Not everywhere
though. For details, see the Addendum in the
Fish Training 101
vignette. Thanks. J. |
First and foremost, the easiest
solution is to once a week treat your drains. I have two, one in the
galley and the second in my head. My method is one I learned from a
plumber in south Florida. Mr. Owensby said to add a tablespoon of Dawn
dish detergent to the drain. Then pour in a teapot full of boiling
water.

Side Note on the gizmo around the bottom of my teapot: That's the
side part of a *spring-form pan. It exactly fit the raised part of
my burner on the propane stove. Using it as a wind shield helped keep the burner lit
when the breeze was blowing. Although I would not pay retail for such
an item, quite frequently I see them offered in thrift stores for a
dollar or two.
*Spring-form pans are used when
making pineapple upside down cakes. They have a spring closure on
the side that allows the part shown above to be removed from the
cake. As long as your burner size is close to the pan dimensions, it will work as a
shield protecting the flame while cooking. Dispose the bottom piece
and just use the side as shown above.
When the hot water with Dawn treatment does not work there is another option
for slow drains.
This one requires a tool. Oh, my favorite! I love gizmos that make
my life easier. The Zip-It does just that.
This is the item that makes the magic.
↓ Mine is called a
Zip-It.

Zip-It is a plastic strip about 3/8" wide with teeth.
The teeth grab whatever icky stuff you happen to have let slide down
your drain. For me that would be tea leaves, puppy fur and bits of
food. As shown above, the plastic does bend. If your drain is not
straight it should still do the job.
Simply shove the pokey part down
into your drain. Then pull it up, twisting as you go. In five
minutes or less the hair and gunk will be removed. Wipe of your
Zip-It. Rinse well in the now-draining sink. Put the tool away and you're
done.
This works well in the shower,
especially for gals like me with long hair. Mine is nearly waist length.
Between Skipper and myself there is a lot of hair aboard Seaweed.

A few times a year I clear my drains with the gizmo.
The galley does get the most icky stuff in it.
My version is stamped with the Zip-It brand name. Years ago it came from Home
Depot or Lowes. The gizmo cost me $3 back then. Now they are found
at dollar stores. Pick up a couple the next time you spot them.
Here is a similar one
listed on Amazon. As of today (1 September 2017) the cost is
$5.49 for three of them. These are most like mine with the width
of the plastic part the same from the handle to the tip. I like
the loop at the top too.
This is an affiliate
link. →
That means if you buy anything on Amazon via the link I
earn a small percentage for my cruising kitty.
Using the link costs you
nothing and does make a difference in my lifestyle. |

Vastar 20" version - drain clog remover |
|
A drain clog remover is
definitely an item to pick up for your boat stores. I find
having two of all essentials a great benefit to me. For lower
cost items such as this one, having spares is a good thing.
|

One other thing you may have noticed is the size of my sponge. I
take a regular sponge and cut it into thirds. Saving water is always
important when your tankage is limited. I find I use less water and
soap with a smaller sponge.
Side Note: when I first cut the
sponges, I'd cut them in half. Now I use thirds. My galley scissors
work well for this task. And now my sponges last three times as long
before I need to replace them. That's a bargain.
 |
←
Picture repeated as I don't like to scroll.
Decorating on a small boat for me means buying a
fancy dish towel for each season and holiday. When the newest one is
bought I cut the old one into work rags.
It is nice to have a stack of
absorbent rags on hand.
When the towels are a bit larger
I use one at the bottom of my sink. After washing the dishes I place a
towel at the bottom of the sink, then stack my clean dishes on it. A
drain-board would take up too much room and this works well.
Plus it is free. |
The above picture also shows one of my sprouting
bottles. It's actually an empty spice container. I use it to make a
single serving of lentil sprouts. My method is in the
Growing Lentil Sprouts
article. I like lentils sprouted, not cooked. They add a nice
texture to tuna salad. Tuna salad is a favorite.

The Fast Tuna recipe can be found in the
Silverware and Spatulas
article.
I am in the process of learning more about sprouting micro-greens.
As I prepare to get underway I would like to have my own ready
supply of *rabbit food to sprout.
*Rabbit food is the term my family
has always used for salads.
It would be helpful if Google and
YouTube did not provide contradictory information on how to sprout
stuff. I'm still hunting a few seed varieties to try before laying
in a supply of those I like best. I bought red and white wheat
berries, buckwheat groats, barley, mung beans, black quinoa, and
golden flax.
Additionally, I would like to try
clover, alfalfa and broccoli too. The local Earth Foods store did
not stock those seed varieties. I will look for them in the
gardening section as per a suggestion by YouTube channel Khang
Starr. Once I find out the ones I like, then I'll price shop for a
better deal.
In the meantime, I have not taken Seaweed from the
dock for nearly two weeks. I'm SUFFERING! That's a whole 'nother
tale of ferrules, crimpers and Good Ideas with unintended
consequences. And it's raining every blasted afternoon which gives
me reasons to hate drips. I have named the drips after their
creators. Argh.

Such is life afloat. It's a good life and know this: I would never
be happier anyplace else. I love my Seaweed. She's the best.
Do you have a similar tool for clearing out your drains?
Any advice about sprouting is welcome. I have a lot to learn.
COMMENTS:
© 2017
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Characters, Galley,
Gear,
Pets,
Recommendations,
Unmentionables,
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