Any good green ideas on what to do about frozen drain pipe for washing machine?

[IrishAyes]

11. I was about to write a potential apology if my comment might've sounded snippy.

Wasn't meant that way. But thank you very much for the plumber's trick with aluminum. I'd never have thunk of it on my own.

Until I do find someone desperate enough to squiggle into the crawl space to do it THAT WAY, however, another stopgap measure occurred to me last night. This problem only occurs when it's been near zero for several days in a row. And I was afraid to try carrying hot water back to the laundry room.

DUH! At last my brain clicked into gear enough for this to happen: why not turn the hot water heater up to near boiling, then draw 1 or 2 gallons into the washer and send super hot water down the pipe that way? Safe, no touching.

This morning the baking soda and vinegar had finally done most of the work. I stood there with my hand on the washer control knob, ready to shut it off at an instant, and then sent the hot water through a cup or so at a time until the blockage was entirely removed. And got caught up on all the laundry I could think of immediately.

This severe weather is expected to continue at least another week w/o a break. Therefore a new part of my routine morning and night will be to send at least a gallon of water down the exit pipe and try to keep it clear.

I don't have a lot of $ but at this point I'm more than willing to pay a premium to hornswoggle - I mean, convince - someone to do the complete job as you describe. My goal is to fix this old house as completely as possible in a most practical and effective manner so I can age in place. It would take a team of wild horses to get me out of here alive. Cosmetic repairs come last, except for the exterior which is now pretty much done.