Achievement

26 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by smkelly8 in China, expat life Tags: Air freshener, China, Cleaning, Drano, housekeeping, Sodium bicarbonate, Vinegar

Today, my great achievement was conquering the smells emanating from my apartment’s drains. In China they don’t use traps in the pipes to keep foul smells out of your home. I can close one sink’s drain, but the others are open permanently.

I looked online and found a few ideas involving baking soda and bleach or Drano. Another suggested vinegar, but then the apartment would smell like vinegar, which is not my favorite aroma. In the end I got Mr. Muscle, a brand that has a wide array of cleaning products. It actually worked. Much like Drano, you pour it down the pipes and after awhile, you’re supposed to pour some boiling water down the pipes.

I used the whole bottle down the three drains. I also got some air freshener and incense. I’ve covered every base and the stink is gone.

I do wonder why drains are better here. It doesn’t seem complicated. Would it really be that expensive?