New-to-Me website alert! You'll love it. (LATER EDIT- DON'T DO WHAT I DID, THOUGH)

Last edited Wed Jan 8, 2014, 08:11 AM - Edit history (1)

1/8/2014 WARNING: If you put more than the tiniest bit of de-icing salt in an open ice-jammed exit pipe, you're likely to compound your problems rather than solve them. IT CLUMPS. ONLY USE NON-TOXIC LIQUID ANTI-FREEZE. I'll never forgive myself if my bad advice causes anyone else more problems than they started with.
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Removeandreplace.com - where I grew giddy just reading the subject titles. One especially good tip I picked up about telemarketers who ignore the DO NOT CALL list; when you're talking to them, press and hold down the number 9 pad on your phone. This sends a message to the other phone to remove you from their call list. I imagine it would work with legal callers such as charities and political organizations too, if indeed it works at all. Worth a try. Lots of other good stuff there too.

In this extra hard winter, my notorious washing machine exit pipe trap managed to form another ice jam. The previous successful methods did nothing to help. Then I found the most remarkable solution: de-icing salt, preferably the non-toxic kind. That's guaranteed to find its way to the ice jam and undo it. (SEE ABOVE WARNING!!!!!!) I'm so happy after almost a week of no laundry that I feel like doing a Snoopy jig. In a couple days when I can get to the store, my woes will be over. After that, when severe freezes threaten, a half cup of non-toxic RV antifreeze to nestle in the trap will keep it safe. What a relief.