The Dudes’ Guide To Keeping The Sink Unclogged When Shaving
For some men, the worst part of maintaining facial hair — or, on the flip side, maintaining a lack of facial hair — is dealing with the mess. Whether you shave every morning or trim your beard once in a while, you can easily end up with hair all over your bathroom sink. To keep hair from potentially clogging the drain, here’s a guide for how to keep your sink clear and clean during shaving.
- Use a bowl. Rather than rinsing your razor in pooled sink water, use a bowl of water instead. The bowl allows you to keep shaving cream scum and whiskers separate until you’re ready to discard under running water — rather than running the risk of clogging the drain after pulling the stopper.
- Run hot water after each shave. Running hot water daily can help prevent hair-related clogs. Hot water helps to flush pipes and move debris through the plumbing system.
- Clear the drain with baking soda and vinegar. On a monthly or bimonthly basis (or anytime you notice a clog), clean your drain in the following manner: Pour a half cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Wait 10 minutes. Then run hot water to flush the mixture in the drain. This natural solvent can help remove buildup inside pipes.
- When trimming, start with a dry sink. If you’re trimming rather than shaving, there are ways to contain the mess — so you can discard rather than flush hair down the drain. Try trimming over a paper towel or some sort of sink liner, or into a dry sink — so hair can be easily removed and thrown in the garbage.
Any guy who has a beard or shaves regularly can relate to problems of hair in the sink. Use the tips above to help keep your drain clear and your vanity clean! By practicing preventative measures and responding quickly to any clogs that occur, you can minimize plumbing issues and keep water flowing freely — not to mention avoid a mess!