Did Brit sinks have the disgusting black sludge getting caught in the drain?

I have had to unblock the sink drain a few times, but when the bathroom faucet handle got damage I replaced the plunger/plug mechanisim at the same time as replacing the faucet itself. The job was all well and good apart from the black sludge that came out of the pipes when disconnected.

My guess is that the drain plug system is to blame, this whole plunger design just seems to present opportunities for hair and other unknown objects to cling to and get disgusting. I should have taken the opportunity to get rid of, and just use a plug.

(I hope my house is not the only one that has aliens growing in the drains)

We have Aliens too I never had a blocked kitchen drain in UK, but here, OMG I'm sick of asking to get it unblocked by Dh. No way in hell I'm pulling the aliens out.

Urghhh I could not shut the tap down on the bathroom sink it just would not stay in place so after about a year decided to take matters into my own hands and got a metal coat hanger the gunk that came out was unreal looked like a dead blackbird got stuck in there.....but it worked

The bath is the worst...every few months, draino goop it is...never had to do that back in England.

Kitchen sink, less issues, the drain is so massive

My bathroom sink smells vile. (Or, washbasin as I quaintly tend to think of it.) It has no plug of any description, neither UK rubber plug nor convoluted US system.. it's just a hole if you know what I mean. Without getting too personal, all I use it for are washing my hands & brushing my teeth. Every few weeks, I run the water vigorously till it backs up, then go at it with the plunger. Bits of dead blackbird do indeed fly out of the sink overflow thingy. Meanwhile, the shower, which should be more problematic since hair presumably accumulates (though aged, I'm not yet bald...) is completely trouble free.

Yet another reason to return to the UK, the home of trouble-free plumbing.

I regularly pour some Chlorox bleach down the plugholes - it prevents the foul odours.

I wish I could get Domestos (or the UK supermarket equivalent) of thick bleach with a proper pouring spout.

Well there goes my theory.

After my recent thread on taps, faucets and valves, I'm beginning to think that the American client might be better off with all the Italian stuff in his house and not all American.

I am grateful for the word help though. Don't think I'll ever forget "hose bib" in my life now.

So do I...on both counts.

Domestos - kills all known germs.

Over here, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were some that are unknown in the civilised world.

This is one of those products that I simply wish I had invented. Super-cheap and incredibly effective. You jam it down the drain (even with the non-removable plugs) then yank it out with half a pound of accumulated hair, nail clippings and black goo...

...but wear gloves. The barbs are only plastic, but they are sharp as hell and will go through your hand like a gunk-covered rip-saw!

Zip-It Bath and Sink Hair Snare

Brilliant idea I think I'll look out for one of those at the hardware store.

Less than $3 at Home Depot...what a bargain.

St. Paul was converted on the road to Domestos.