blocked drain

[Dee Sa]

Our kitchen and bathroom water goes into a drain which we share and the drain is in next door's garden, we are terraced houses. The drain keeps getting blocked and the overflow floods our patio not next doors. Our neighbours are very good and once we tell them they try and clear it but it keeps happening, we have offered to pay half towards having it cleared by Dynarod or similar but they dont want to do this, what can we put down to clear it ?
a pal suggested a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda which I have bought but I dont want to make it worse, so I thought I would ask A/Bers before doing this.

[boxtops]

We too have shared drains - I do suggest it may need rodding. The last time it happened it was cooking fat (theirs) which had solidified, plus cat hairs (ours) from the washing machine.. it's a shared responsibility, they really should go halves.

[boxtops]

PS not sure how it happens in your garden if the manhole covers is in theirs, how does the overflow get to your garden then?

[The Builder]

They probably just clear the grid only Dee ............... most likely it's a trapped gulley (clay gulley with a "U-bend")
Nothing for it but to clear out the bottom of the gulley. Not a very pleasant job ...... you need a loooooong rubber glove (the kind of thing vets use for pleasuring cows) ......... ahem .............. failing that, use a strong plastic bag, tape it around your elbow and dive in .................. guaranteed!

[Dee Sa]

thanks for the help , but I can see the drain but cant reach it ! its just a drain, no manhole cover on it, we shall have to put bricks round on our side then the overflow will go in their garden not ours, they are nice neighbours and I dont want to fall out with them, I have "traps" on kitchen sink and the bath so that not a lot of hairs escape and what little
fat I use then I always add washing up liquid to and boiling water, we do have dogs and a cat so that could contribute, but I am very careful as we have had problems before.