That black substance that keeps seeping into your sink or toilet is usually bacteria that's clinging to waste in your drain lines. This bacteria tends to grow and spread over time, particularly because the matter that goes down these drains is organic in nature, providing a food source for the bacteria to live on.
Assuming you're not the do-it-yourselfer and do not want to remove the stopper, then you have a few options. If you prefer the organic method, take half a cup of baking soda and carefully push it into the drain until it reaches the top. Then slowly pour vinegar over the baking soda. You'll hear it fizzing.
Remember, the black slime is caused by minerals (manganese and iron) in your water supply. So the only way to permanently address the issue is by removing those minerals from your water. One of the few ways to accomplish that is by using a high-quality filter or reverse osmosis system.
Create a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Pour a quarter cup of baking soda together with a cup of white vinegar into the drain. Wait for 10–15 minutes, and this baking soda and white vinegar mixture should get clean.
The black gunk that accumulates in your sink drain is created by a buildup of bacteria living on hair, hand soaps, shaving cream, skin cells, lotion, toothpaste, and phlegm (yuck!). The problem with this black gunk is it will not go away by itself.
Drain clogs are not just inconvenient, they are also unsafe. Water build-up in your drains can cause moisture buildup, which can then attract mold and other organisms. Amongst all the mold types, the most dangerous is toxic black mold, also known as Stachybotrys Chartarum.
At some point you may notice a layer of black slime developing on your faucets and several other fixtures around your house like your shower head. This looks pretty sinister doesn't it? You'll be pleasantly surprised to know that this more than likely is not shown to be detrimental to human health.
Get Your Plunger and Plunge it!
The black slime backing up into your sink can be caused by a clogged pipe so plunging it will remove the clog. Give it a couple of good plunges, boil a kettle of hot water then proceed to pour it down the problem area.
When you are using a baking soda and vinegar solution to clean out your drain, you are actually causing the rubber and plastic that are used for the drain's pipes to be eaten away by the mixture. Over time, this rubber and plastic will break down, causing the drain to become even more blocked.
Just like cooking oil, bleach is one of those things you shouldn't pour into your sink. You should also never use bleach to unclog your drains. Doing so can even burst your drain pipes, and you'll be left with a nasty and expensive mess.
Slime is non-toxic, but it goes mouldy, it gets dirty especially when handled and it blocks the drain! Trust me it really does block the drain!
Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.
While hot water can help loosen up debris, coarse salt actually scours the inside of your pipes, removing more material than hot water alone. After removing standing water from the sink, pour about half a cup of table salt down the drain before you pour in the hot water.
It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain. Always flush this mixture down with boiling water—no matter how long you leave it sitting in the drain.
It is Extremely Corrosive For Your Drains
When your pipes are clogged, Drano will sit on top of the clog, continually reacting and generating heat until the clog dissolves. This can put a great deal of stress on your drains as the heat can cause PVC pipes to soften and even break or collapse.
The presence of a black jellylike substance in moist areas of the kitchen or bathroom is likely a fungus called Aspergillus niger that occurs naturally in our environment and travels through the air. Given the right growing conditions, Aspergillus niger will colonize and produce black stains on surfaces.
Clogs are not only a breeding ground for bacterium and mold but also other dangerous contaminants that can make you extremely ill. Handling a clogged drain is not a DIY task, for your own health and safety, call in a professional plumbing technician to resolve the clog as soon as possible.
In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma. Whether or not you're allergic to molds, mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs.
Anyone with asthma, a mold allergy, chronic lung disease, or who is immunocompromised can become quite sick after exposure to mold. Ignoring mold growth under your kitchen sink is never a good idea. Not only do you risk making yourself or your family sick, but the mold will likely keep growing and spreading.
If you suspect a grease clog, a mixture of very hot water and vinegar can also help melt and remove the grease that's blocking the pipes. Allow it to work for a few minutes, then use a plunger to help move the clog along. You may have to repeat this more than once.
Vinegar. Vinegar is both safe and beneficial to pour down your drain. It acts as a natural cleaning solution and can remove blockages and harmful bacteria that cause foul odors.
Preventative Maintenance
Pouring bleach into the drain when the unit is not operating can leave residual bleach, which will damage the drain pan and line. Using vinegar for preventative maintenance throughout the year will keep your drain clean and clear and will not damage your line.
You may be surprised to learn that pouring soda down the drain does work for some clogs. To be specific, you need a dark-colored cola (such as Coca-Cola or Pepsi). This type of carbonated beverage usually contains a good amount of phosphoric acid, which given enough time, can eat away at some types of clogs.