We’ve all been there, quietly washing our hands as the soap foams under the warm water. Thanks to Covid, you’re probably singing ‘happy birthday’ to yourself to get those 30 seconds in, or eyeing yourself in the mirror, when you look down and notice the murky water beginning to pool in your sink. The dread sinks in as you realize the unavoidable – your sink is clogged. You can either get used to stale water festering in the sink for weeks, or shell out money for a plumber. Drain cleaner perhaps? Unfortunately, these cleaners are often ineffective, and worse, can cause damage to your plumbing system. If you’re renting, your landlord might not even allow drain cleaners, especially if the house is older.
This is where the simple and versatile cable tie comes into play. Also known as the “tie wrap” or “zip tie”, these unassuming tools will be a lifesaver in our ‘clogged-sink’ predicament. Head to the toolbox and grab a cable tie (the longer the length the better), as well as a wire cutter. The solution is straightforward. Using the cutters, clip diagonal notches the entire length of the cable tie on both sides, alternating your slots for best effect. Next, gently bend each notch outward to create bards, which will grab onto to gunk accumulated in your sink pipes.
Now comes the fun part. Take your barbed tie and force it as far down as possible into the drain, pulling carefully to extract the clog culprits, be it grease, hair (most likely lots of it), or any other sorts of drain congestion. Repeat until water drains freely down the sink and there you have it – a quick and easy plumbing fix, utilizing tools you probably have around the house, saving time, money, and even possible damage to your plumbing system.
As you can see, cable ties have an almost endless number of applications, some traditional, such as securing cable bundles, but others more inventive – like our clogged sink! Be sure to keep cable ties in your toolkit, and contact us if you have questions about our ties. Also, let us know of the clever ways you use this remarkable tool!
