Latest news with #drain
The Sun
16-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
I'm a plumber – here's why your shower smells musty and how to fix it for 50p
A HOT shower should leave you feeling refreshed — not standing in a steamy cloud of musty odour. But according to bathroom and kitchen experts at Plumbworld, many homeowners don't realise that the unpleasant smell in their shower could be coming from hidden grime in the drain. 1 Over time, soap scum, hair, skin cells, and body oils collect in your shower drain and trap moisture. This creates the perfect environment for mould, mildew, and bacteria, which produce musty or sour smells. And showers that don't drain fully or sit unused for long periods are more likely to develop these odours. Thakfully, professional plumber James Clarkson says there's a simple fix that costs just around 50p and can make a noticeable difference fast. James, who has over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial plumbing, explains: 'It's not always the pipes themselves — often, it's the gunk stuck in the trap or just under the grate that starts to smell.' He insists you don't need expensive drain cleaners to fix the issue - and a more purse-friendly solution may already be in your cupboard. That's because James' go-to routine involves a squirt of washing-up liquid and a full kettle of hot water. 'Washing-up liquid cuts through grease and body oils,' James revealed. 'Combined with boiling water, it can break down what's causing the smell — and it only costs pennies per treatment.' To try the hack, all you need to do is pour a generous squirt of standard washing-up liquid - about 5–10ml, costing roughly 5–10p - directly into the shower drain. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes to help loosen oily build-up then carefully pour boiling hot water down the drain to flush out the grime. Then finish up by rinsing the drain area with cold water from the shower. For more stubborn odours, you can mix together two tablespoons of baking soda and salt to pour into the drain, then follow the same steps above. This method is best done once a month as part of your regular bathroom routine. Plumbworld explains: 'A musty shower doesn't always mean there's a major problem. Often, it's just a small maintenance issue that can be fixed for less than 50p. "Regular rinses with hot water and detergent, plus the occasional salt and baking soda flush, go a long way toward keeping odours at bay. 'Baking soda helps neutralise odours, and salt adds a gentle scouring action to loosen stubborn grime. It's a natural, non-corrosive alternative to harsh drain cleaners.'
South China Morning Post
16-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Naked US man rescued from sewer in Thailand after chaotic struggle
A naked American man who accidentally got stuck in a drain in Thailand tried to crawl deeper into the sewer and fight off his rescuers, biting and spitting at them when they finally broke through the concrete to get to him. The chaotic rescue on Monday morning started with a phone call from the residents of a block of flats along Kalpapruek Road in Bangkok. They told the police that a man had fallen through a gap in the concrete slabs covering a drain separating the building from a canal, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported. When rescuers arrived, they found a man wedged between the slabs with only his legs protruding from the opening of the drainage pipe connected to the canal. Despite being clearly stuck, the man, later identified only as 28-year-old 'Jack', refused help and shouted in English that he could get out on his own, according to the KhaoSod newspaper. Jack stuck in the drain. After being rescued, he was sent to hospital for further examination and psychiatric care. Photo: Poh Teck Tung Foundation He even tried to crawl deeper into the drain, while shouting incoherently, as the rescuers began to cut and drill through the concrete. Eventually, some of the rescuers had to crawl into the small space to pull him out, after binding his torso with cloth. Others had to push his legs from the opening. Jack became more agitated during the rescue process, even biting off the strap of a female rescuer's wristwatch and chewing on it, according to the Thai Examiner news website. His erratic behaviour continued above ground. After he spat at his rescuers, they placed a medical mask over his mouth and strapped him to a backboard to restrain him. During the initial medical assessment, paramedics found only scratches and no broken bones. But as his mental state was unstable and he appeared paranoid and disoriented, they suspected that substance abuse might be involved. A foreign resident of the block of flats who helped translate Jack's conversation told the rescuers that Jack claimed to be living in the building with his Thai girlfriend. But he could not explain how he came to be stuck in the drain.
Washington Post
09-07-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Why does my shower drain keep clogging, and how can I clear it?
Q: The drain in one shower in our home keeps plugging up. We put baking soda and vinegar down the drain and water flows better, but in about a month, the drain is plugged up again. What should we do? A: Vinegar and baking soda can muscle through soap scum and the black gunk that collects inside drain pipes. But they can't blast through many of the other things that can clog drains, including wads of hair, twigs brought in from hiking trips, and even things like tree roots that have worked their way into a drain pipe far from the shower.
