I am wondering if anyone knows of a frugal-enzymatic type cleaner?

The issue is my shower drain. It's slow, not fully clogged. I have done treatments of baking soda and vinegar with no avail. I have the drain "strainer" off even.  I am wondering if there is another way of dealing with all the gunk that is built up in the drain. Also not willing to do the wire coat hanger dealy since I kind of need to use my hands/arms afterwards. (due to the ackwardness, I know it would trigger my fibromyalgia)

If you know of something that would be in most houses that would work versus going out and buying something that would be ideal... since most things out there are toxic, and I'm thinking Green.

TIA!!

 Did you try boiling water with some dish detergent? Babs

Have you tried a can of Coke? It seems to work better than Pepsi, but may take more than one application. It contains hydrochloric acid. You pour the whole can down the drain and let it sit overnight. It usually works well on hair clogs. DH gave me that tip and said a plumber told him that. I've offered this tip on other sides and it's been pooh-poohed, but it has worked for me.

Jill

 Does Diet Coke also work?  I've got some to get rid of and it just doesn't taste good.  May I assume that this will also work in the sink too.

Linda

Luvd_Lioness:

 I have done treatments of baking soda and vinegar with no avail.

 How did you do this?  I have slow running drains in the bathroom too.  I take baking soda and pour it in the drain, then pour vinegar over it.  I let it sit for about 10 minutes and then pour a whole teakettle of boiling water over it and it goes down the drain.  I sometimes have to repeat once, maybe twice if it's a real stubborn clog.  It has always worked for me.  The soap residue builds up in the pipes and gets really gelatinous and nasty.  I think it's the combo of all three that really helps to release it.

mommatothree:

Luvd_Lioness:

 I have done treatments of baking soda and vinegar with no avail.

 How did you do this?  I have slow running drains in the bathroom too.  I take baking soda and pour it in the drain, then pour vinegar over it.  I let it sit for about 10 minutes and then pour a whole teakettle of boiling water over it and it goes down the drain.  I sometimes have to repeat once, maybe twice if it's a real stubborn clog.  It has always worked for me.  The soap residue builds up in the pipes and gets really gelatinous and nasty.  I think it's the combo of all three that really helps to release it.

I put a good amount of baking soda down the hole and poured the vinegar, and all it did was bubble up, after about 1/2 a gallon of vinegar did it start going down. I turned on the tap as hard over to the hot as possible and still had the slowness of it draining out. I went through 1.5 gallons of vinegar last night between my sink and the tub. Part of why my hands were sore afterwards (triggered the fibro). 

I think when I get the flow going good, I'll do this once a week so to avoid the issue in the future. (it's cheap)

Luvd_Lioness:

I turned on the tap as hard over to the hot as possible and still had the slowness of it draining out.

Boil water in a container to pour down it the next time. Tap water doesn't get hot enough to finish dissolving gunk. 

Another thing you can try is heat the pipes with boiling water first, then pour a cup or two of boiling water with a tablespoon of Tide mixed in. I've used that with good results when the baking soda and vinegar didn't work. 

babs:

 Did you try boiling water with some dish detergent? Babs

Considering it's upstairs, I don't want to risk the stairs and handling boiling water (the weight of the water even 2 steps to the sink in the kitchen from the stove can trigger the wrist pain). I like the suggestion though. I tried doing the hottest water I could... my thermostat on the heater is above 120* (I don't know what temp it is really but it's above that mark). 

I think I'll try the coke suggestion. Spending ~$1 is not going to kill me (and it's even on food stamps so even better). I'll try a 2 liter. 

Now to wake up fully and go and buy it.  

I don't think the Diet Coke works as well. Maybe it just takes more of it. If you want to get rid of it it's worth a try.

Jill

 Maybe you could ask a neighbor to carry the water upstairs for you. Babs