Toothpaste in the Tubes?

[alldownwind]

In this month's YM, Libby Purves writes about how everyone on her boat is required to spit over the side in the course of cleaning their teeth. This is because her husband reckons that toothpaste down the sink degrades the smooth interior surfaces in the plumbing and thus encourages dirt and bugs and nasty smells. The article goes on to say that they've not met anyone else who's heard of this! Have you?

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[tcm]

Hm, this is a big extreme! If hubby is that worrid about the waste pipes, what the toothpaste doing to their teeth?

The rough buildup in the pipes is not from toothpaste, the berk, it's from deposits from hard water building up.

Use Viakal or other calcium-removing stuff in the sinks to makem sparkling, and it also cleans the pipes. There's also that Mr Muscle foamy stuff too.

Note; using lotos of viakal and cleaning lotos f loos in a big boat is very tempting. BUT i did this in antibes once, and next morning as grey water had gone overboard, there were lots of dead fish floating about, and i think i probly killed them. Clean boat tho.

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[richardandtracy]

May be true, I have wondered about this myself.

At home the only sink that gunges up is the bathroom one where the tooth paste, spit etc goes. The other sinks/ plugholes in the house never go that way.

The real problem is that too much toothpaste is being used. If you only used the absolute minimum necessary (as in being a real cheapskate), then you could swallow it & use it for your daily flouride intake. Just think of the saving in water, toothpaste and cleaning this would lead to!

Regards

Richard.


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[andyb]

I think the guy should advocate a daily vindaloo for each crew member, to ensure the smooth passage of waste passing the heads!!

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[HeadMistress]

Toothpaste isn't the problem...too little water down the sink drain is. Without enough water going through to rinse out the drain line, toothpaste becomes a "binder" that traps soap scum, body oils and anything else that goes down the drain. They're what's actually clogging it up.

If the fresh water supply is that critical, pour enough sea water down the drain to rinse it out...followed by a little fresh water to rinse out the sea water if sea water odor in the drain is likely to be a problem.

A little baking soda and vinegar down the drain will clean it out too...it's very effective drain opener that will even clear a clog--pour it in, plug the sink. Be careful how much you use, though, and watch it like a hawk.. 'cuz vinegar and baking soda is a VERY effervescent combination that not only breaks up the clog, but also creates pressure to blow the clog out the thru-hull. It can burst a pipe if the gasses produced are too great and can't escape by blowing out the clog first. So do NOT use this method to clear a clogged loo!! Do not use in combination with bleach or anything containing bleach either...that combination produces a deadly gas.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[ianwright]

Well,You know,,,,,,

,,,,,,,,, what the boating public need is instruction in the choice of and use of the Bog Standard Boat Bucket.
Laundry, Shower, Bilge Pump and Sanitation in one low cost package,,,,,,,,,, if its galvanised you can cook in it, but mine is re-inforced rubber, no rust and softer on the paint.

IanW

<hr width=100% size=1>Vertue 203, Patience

 

[HeadMistress]

Re: Well,You know,,,,,,

ROFL! Ian, m'love...you just might be onto something there.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[Althorne]

Tell her to take 'em out in front of him and dangle 'em over the side for a wash one morning just as he's starting his breakfast on deck. Bet that gets the right reaction from the poncey prig.

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