Simple home DIY repairs

[Kb27]

5 hours ago, Sunlight said:

i scared of this too. Any recommendations for strong stuff to dissolve waste?

I use a high pressure washer.

[Adrianli]

On 9/22/2020 at 9:30 PM, Lala81 said:

Hi guys. 

Our home handyman adventures are sorta scattered all round the place in different threads. Maybe can lump here under something like makan thread. 

Don't think this belongs to plumber thread. So I start this off. 

My 555 ss water container. The lid handle fell off. Would an epoxy work? Any recommended brands? Funny thing is if it's epoxyed on originally. How come got that 3 contact points? 

 

 

Can try if magnet work. Just use a magnet as the lid holder.

[Ender]

13 hours ago, kobayashiGT said:

https://www.wikihow.com/Clear-a-Clogged-Drain-with-Vinegar

 

Vinegar and baking soda!

Anyone tried this and work? Vinegar is acidic, Baking soda is alkaline, wouldn't they neutralise each other? Should go for strong acid or strong alkaline. 

[Lala81]

24 minutes ago, Ender said:

Anyone tried this and work? Vinegar is acidic, Baking soda is alkaline, wouldn't they neutralise each other? Should go for strong acid or strong alkaline. 

Acetic acid in vinegar plus sodium bicarbonate in baking soda. The reaction becomes carbonic acid which starts to immediately break down into carbon dioxide and water. 

I think it's this 2nd rxn that breaks up the clog. So ideally I think as per what people describe. Put the baking soda in the drain Pour in vinegar, leave it overnight for a while, then agitate it with a plunger possibly. 

 

[Ender]

 

23 minutes ago, Lala81 said:

Acetic acid in vinegar plus sodium bicarbonate in baking soda. The reaction becomes carbonic acid which starts to immediately break down into carbon dioxide and water. 

I think it's this 2nd rxn that breaks up the clog. So ideally I think as per what people describe. Put the baking soda in the drain Pour in vinegar, leave it overnight for a while, then agitate it with a plunger possibly. 

 

So it is the bubbling reaction that breaks up the clog, not the weakened dissolving properties of being acidic or alkaline?

Actually this is how our pan cake get fluffy...LOL

Edited September 28, 2020 by Ender

[Hamburger]

Used to buy a very strong acid in 1L bottle form at ubi hardware store. 

So strong that once poured in, the reaction is immediate with fumes  smoked out the entire kitchen. 

Apparently taken off the shelves.... Shucks

 

[BanCoe]

7 hours ago, Hamburger said:

Used to buy a very strong acid in 1L bottle form at ubi hardware store. 

So strong that once poured in, the reaction is immediate with fumes  smoked out the entire kitchen. 

Apparently taken off the shelves.... Shucks

 

I think hardware shops have it .... gotta be careful ... smoke comes out and pungent smell too ; Many donkey years back used to be branded and in pink solution , some year back bought it again but no brand - just in a plain bottle like thinner or turpentine 

[Lala81]

7 hours ago, Ender said:

 

So it is the bubbling reaction that breaks up the clog, not the weakened dissolving properties of being acidic or alkaline?

Actually this is how our pan cake get fluffy...LOL

Combination of both. Cos But u can buy a drain cleaner bottle also lah. Which probably contains borax and other detergents. 

Actually acetic acid pH is 3.9. Carbonic is 4.6. Boric acid is 6.1 (found in borax). 

But the acetic acid concentration in vinegar is low. Only about 5% thereabouts for most vinegars. 

Just that vinegar and baking soda are common in American households. 

[Lala81]

7 hours ago, Ender said:

 

So it is the bubbling reaction that breaks up the clog, not the weakened dissolving properties of being acidic or alkaline?

Actually this is how our pan cake get fluffy...LOL

Baking is a lot of chemistry/science. 

[Jtb]

https://www.dei.com.sg/islandwide/retail/product/clorox-pro-strength-liquid-plumr-urgent-clear-clog-remover-502ml/6323

[BanCoe]

4 hours ago, Lala81 said:

Baking is a lot of chemistry/science. 

Tell that to @Carbon82........ he is "Ma Baker"  🍞 .🎂 🥞.........🤣

[Heartlander]

Just pour coke and throw in a few mentos lah.

[Kb27]

22 hours ago, Ender said:

Anyone tried this and work? Vinegar is acidic, Baking soda is alkaline, wouldn't they neutralise each other? Should go for strong acid or strong alkaline. 

The idea is the "violent' reaction, gas bubbling, that breaks up dirt, whatever.

So don't use it after the show is over. It is useless as it's all neutralized. 

[Kb27]

13 hours ago, Lala81 said:

Combination of both. Cos But u can buy a drain cleaner bottle also lah. Which probably contains borax and other detergents. 

Actually acetic acid pH is 3.9. Carbonic is 4.6. Boric acid is 6.1 (found in borax). 

But the acetic acid concentration in vinegar is low. Only about 5% thereabouts for most vinegars. 

Just that vinegar and baking soda are common in American households. 

Ammonia is common in USA households. Over here, you try to buy it, it's like buying a bomb, highly restricted.

I tried, can't find.

[Kb27]

And since many of us drives, and there's a battery in your car.

You should carry a box of baking soda with you.

You can use it to neutralize acid that leaked from the battery onto the posts, or in severe case, where the battery explode (casing cracked) due to overcharging, you can limit the damage from the acid.

And if you have marble flooring or table, keep boxes of baking soda handy. 

[Lala81]

12 minutes ago, Kb27 said:

Ammonia is common in USA households. Over here, you try to buy it, it's like buying a bomb, highly restricted.

I tried, can't find.

Haha it is a common ingredient in bomb making mah. Though usually they use the ammonium nitrates in commercial fertiliser 

Remember the domestic terrorist caught by isd for planning to bomb yishun mrt. 

I believe they got couple tons of fertiliser and chemicals etc over in johor ready to bring in. 

Won't be particularly wise to search how to do so on Google etc. Probably get flagged to isd. 

Edited September 29, 2020 by Lala81

[Lala81]

20 minutes ago, Kb27 said:

The idea is the "violent' reaction, gas bubbling, that breaks up dirt, whatever.

So don't use it after the show is over. It is useless as it's all neutralized. 

So people who say leave it overnight to sit is pretty pointless right?

Since u are supposed to pour the baking soda in first. Then add vinegar. Then when all the bubbling is happening. U supposed to agitate with plunger or drain snake. If u wait until tomorrow then do the above is waste time. 

Edited September 29, 2020 by Lala81

[Kb27]

5 minutes ago, Lala81 said:

So people who say leave it overnight to sit is pretty pointless right?

Since u are supposed to pour the baking soda in first. Then add vinegar. Then when all the bubbling is happening. U supposed to agitate with plunger or drain snake. If u wait until tomorrow then do the above is waste time. 

That's what I read, It is during the reaction, that bubbling that breaks up the dirt, as ions are exchanged, gas released, etc.

You can try vinegar + baking soda, just watch the bubbling, it takes quite a while, until everything is completely neutralized.

Also baking soda by itself is an excellent oil removal. I dunno the chemistry for this, but I know it works. If my hands, pots and pans are very greasy or oily, use baking soda first, then followed by dish cleaner soap.

Cooker hob filters very greasy ? Soak them in a pail of baking soda solution, you'll see all the black stuff coming out.