The joys of DIY everything

**Pleater** · 27th July 09, 05:05 PM

Oh yes - the experience of unblocking a drain in the height of summer - it all started with the sink in the kitchen being really difficult - I used the plunger, poured some washing powder down it, plunger again - then this evening I gave up and took off the trap and proddled with the reamer. The blockage was round the corner in the conservatory by then.

So I reassembled the trap and tried the plunger again - still no joy so I gave up and washed my kilt.

Went to remove the kilt from the washing machine, and there is water on the floor and in the conservatory sink despite it not being used. The blockage had reached the point where the washing machine drain is fitted into the pipework. I find the reamer and poke, there is much gurgling and glooping, the head of water vanishes away, the sink clears.

Joy - I return to the kitchen and run some water into the sink. It drains away for about a minute and then it starts to fill up again. I use the plunger. The kitchen sink empties but the sink in the conservatory fills up, and there is some really smelly stuff on the floor this time.

I ream the drain behind the washing machine again. Slurping sounds emanate, the sink empties, I run the taps and clear the floor and then try the kitchen sink again - this time it looks like the drain is clear, wonderful. I put the second kilt of the day into the washing machine, add most of the rest of my clothes, wrap self in length of tartan cloth and make a cup of tea. Contemplate several days of washing up accumulated due to lack of free draining sink.

Decide to do the washing up tomorrow, put feet up and drink tea, contemplate the kilts and various home made garments hanging in the conservatory and consider how much easier it is to be grovelling around under sinks, behind washing machines and down drains wearing a kilt.

Also consider that the last two kilts washed were those I made from the heavy poly cotton winter weight duvet we had until I wanted a couple of kilts to take on holiday this coming Friday, and that it will be of some satisfaction to iron them, press in the pleats and place them on hangers to put in the van ready for anything that might happen.

The duvet was torn into six large strips and two small waistband ones, and has made two reverse Kingussie kilts each with 7 yards of material. One has 22 pleats and the other - I think it has 26 or 28, as dictated by the pattern of stripes. The strips were joined using the sewing machine, but the rest was sewn by hand over a period of a couple of weeks.

Now it is one am, and I think I have earned a hot shower and a good nights sleep.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Bugbear** · 27th July 09, 05:21 PM

Ah, the joys of plumbing. You need one of those flexable, spear pointed, battering rams that roll up like a giant measuring tape, Pleater.

**walkerk** · 27th July 09, 06:49 PM

Sounds like it might be time to give in and call for a plumber with a power snake.

**Kiltman** · 27th July 09, 07:21 PM

OK, I've been there too. Frustration time big time. Two choices: call a plumber or move. I don't know which one is the least expensive.

**Bugbear** · 27th July 09, 07:58 PM

Power snakes break! Five big dudes and the steel battering ram tape, Pleater! Ram that hairball all the way to the gully!

**Pleater** · 28th July 09, 05:33 AM

The secret weapon - it seems - was the biological washing powder.

This morning I rose and put on an older kilt - just in case, and found that the conservatory has dried out overnight, the sink in there is flowing freely and the kitchen sink is vastly improved, to the point of being useable.

All I needed to do was check that there were no leaking joints due to the pressure of the plunger, and I will repeat the dose of washing powder later on.

The DH has a final check on his new lenses shortly, after treatment for cataracts, so I will be out of the house for a while.

Just checking - yes the green of this top matches exactly the green in the Stuart tartan kilt, black belt with black sandals - far too hot for anything more today, and the Tilley hat is to hand. We are good to go.

Being able to DIY around the house saves an awful lot of money - so any spare can be put towards a good cause.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Phil** · 28th July 09, 05:39 AM

Go to the plumbing section in B&Q. They sell drain cleaner in yellow plastic bottles that will do the business. Just be careful with it.

**Pleater** · 28th July 09, 07:59 AM

Unfortunately normal drain cleaners have had very little effect - it has been a bother for many years, and it was a tip on a TV cleaning program 'How clean is your house' which made me try again - I had thought that complete removal of the entire thing was the only solution, as the drain has been almost totally blocked for months.

The blockage seems to have been broken down completely - half a scoop of biological washing powder in a jug of hot water, and now I have no excuse not to wash up after every meal.

The hospital has given the DH a most satisfactory outcome for his double cataract surgery, which has been obvious due to his ability to see the cobwebs recently, so it looks as though more housework is necessary. Strange how that always seems to happen.

The kilts I wore yesterday appear to be none the worse for their experiences, so it is all systems go for the Sidmouth Folk festival starting this Friday.

I shall take the camera and spare batteries in order to snap any passing kilts which turn up.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: