Never Put These 13 Things Down Your Drain
Clogged drains are a common and frustrating plumbing issue. Drain blockages disrupt water flow, create foul odours, and can lead to sewer backups and expensive repairs. Many clogs result from pouring problematic materials down the drain over time. Learning what not to put down your sinks and drains is key to preventing clogs and maintaining free-flowing plumbing.
Why Do Drain Clog?
Drainpipes easily get clogged from the accumulation of materials that solidify or get trapped. Grease, oil, and fat congeal into solid masses. Food scraps clump together. Hair and debris get tangled in pipes. These clogs restrict water flow and require snaking or drain cleaning to remove. Avoiding these nightmare materials can prevent headaches.
13 Things to Keep Out of Your Drains
Here are 13 substances that should never go down your sinks and drains:
- Food Scraps – Fruits, vegetables, eggshells and other food debris clump up and clog pipes. Compost food instead of putting it down the drain. Use sink strainers to catch particles.
- Fats, Oils and Grease – Cooking oils and meat fats solidify into sticky blockages when poured down drains. Collect grease in cans for proper disposal instead.
- Starchy Foods – Pasta, rice, and potatoes expand in water, sticking to pipes. The flour turns to paste. Dispose in the trash instead.
- Coffee Grounds – Grounds compact and form dense clumps when washed down the drain, leading to clogged pipes.
- Hair – Strands of hair get tangled in pipes and collect debris. Catch hair with drain covers rather than rinsing down the drain.
- Dental Floss & Q-Tips – These winding materials wrap around pipes and cause stubborn clogs. Never flush down toilets either.
- Kitty Litter – Clumping kitty litter expands when wet, clinging inside pipes. Scoop solid waste into trash bags instead.
- Diapers – Soiled diapers swell up and clog pipes. Use diaper pails to contain waste.
- Condoms – Latex and rubber stick to pipe walls, trapping debris and restricting flow. Put it in the trash instead.
- Sanitary Pads & Tampons – Cotton and fibres in these products snag on pipes. Use waste bins to contain sanitary products.
- Paper Towels & Napkins – These materials fragment and cause obstructions. Put paper products in compost instead.
- Garden Debris & Soil – Dirt contains minerals that solidify when wet. Compost plant trimmings and dispose of soil responsibly.
- Chemicals & Toxic Substances – Harsh cleaners, paints, and automotive fluids corrode pipes and damage septic systems. Take these products to hazard disposal sites instead.
Preventing Clogs is Better Than Clearing Them
An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure when it comes to clogged drains. By keeping problematic materials out of your plumbing, you avoid costly plumbing repairs, sewer backups, and damage from water leaks. Contact a professional plumber immediately if you have a stubborn clog that won’t clear with a plunger or snake. For exceptional drain cleaning and plumbing services, call The Plumbing Life Saver at 0448 669 938. Protect your home with smart drain use.