Things We Should Avoid Dumping Down The Drain

As some things you put down your drain can negatively impact yourself, the environment, and your home, it is imperative to be cautious of what you put down your sink. While your drains may be able to keep up for a while, it’s only a matter of time until all that grease and grime clogs them up for good.

Here are a few things that you should avoid dumping down your drain, however lazy you might be feeling!

• Rice and pasta: Starch? Not a good idea to even think about chucking them down the drain. Uncooked rice can turn into a big problem, as rice grains can swell up and clump together when wet, turning into a stodgy, sticky mess which is hard to break down.
• Eggshells: Egg shells are better off in the bin. They can wreak havoc on your pipes and septic tank if you have one. When wet, the shells can become sticky and coat your pipes or garbage-disposal blades. If this coating hardens, it can be hard to remove and can easily cause an obstruction in your pipes.
• Coffee Grounds: Coffee smells so delicious that it’s easy to think it may actually freshen up your dirty drain, but in reality, it will only cause problems. They can clog or damage your pipes and septic system if you dispose of them down the drain.
• Oil & Fat: Have you ever left a pan to cool, and noticed it turned into a thick, solid, white substance? Pouring used cooking oil down the drain is absolutely bad for your sink. Instead of dumping used oil in your sink, dispose of it by collecting it in a disposable container as oils can cling to your drain pipes and cause blockages over time.
• Bones: Bones belong in the bin. As bones will rarely be broken down completely, they are likely to clog pipes, which will prevent other liquid from filtering through.
• Seeds and Grains: Seeds, nuts and grains can also cause a problem for our drains. Stuff like corn kernels, cherry pits and more specifically, chia seeds, which expand in water  are definitely a nightmare for your drain pipes to deal with. If you want to keep your pipes clear, be mindful of seeds and grains, no matter how small they are!

Pouring boiling water down your drain may help to dislodge these blockages. You can also try pouring a mixture of vinegar and baking soda down the drain to try to dissolve the gunk out. For more useful tips on how to unclog your blocked drains, check out this link here.

“Tips on How to Unblock Your Household Drain”

If you can’t DIY your blocked drains, call professional help. As we like to say, If your plumbing’s urgent, call Sewer Surgeon!

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