8 Things You Should Never Put Down the Drain
Did you know that there are some things you should never put down your drain? Do you know what they are?
It’s important to think about your drain before it gets clogged.
No one wants to have a clogged drain ruin their day. Check out this plumbing 101 guide so you know what you shouldn’t put down your drain and make sure you dispose of these things in a different way.
1. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are not fully water-soluble. This means that if they mix with oil, grease, or butter, they will coat the pipes, creating an increased risk for clogs.
Be sure you scoop out the coffee grounds before emptying out a coffee pot. You can compost coffee grounds if you don’t want to just add them to the trash.
2. Eggshells
Even with a garbage disposal, you should not put eggshells down the sink. The membranes of the shell can cause clogs. The shells also can break into smaller sticky pieces and attach to your pipes.
It’s best to compost them or throw them in the garbage.
3. Flour and Dough
You should not put excess dough or flour down the drain when you bake. Empty out your bowls, egg beaters, and measuring cups in the trash before you rinse and wash in the sink.
The flour and dough will become goopy when it gets wet and can easily clog your drain and mess with your kitchen plumbing.
4. Grease and Oil
After you cook anything greasy, like bacon, stop before you pour that grease down the drain. Grease and oil congeal, and that can clog the pipe.
Try reusing the grease in different dishes if possible; it’s very flavorful.
5. Rice and Pasta
You’ve seen it happen when you cook rice; it expands in water. So as you dump rice, think twice before you pour extra rice down the drain and add water.
The same is true with pasta noodles. They will expand and the flour will gum up and stick to pipes.
6. Medications
Never add medicine down the drain. It can pollute the waterway.
There are several options for safer disposal. Your local pharmacy may have a medical waste disposal system. You can also save all medication for the National Drug Take-Back Day.
7. Cleaning Products
You should never pour harsh chemicals down the drain, such as bleach or ammonia. You can contact your local Hazardous Household Waste collection center for drop-off information.
Discover other ways to clean your drains instead of dumping chemicals down your drain.
8. Flushable Wipes
There are several wipes on the market that claim to be “flushable,” but this isn’t always the case. They do not disintegrate easily and can wreak havoc on older bathroom plumbing systems.
Understand Plumbing 101 to Prevent Clogs
You can prevent some clogs by following this plumbing 101 guide. Remember, even with the garbage disposal, not everything can go down a drain. You don’t want to risk having a clog or calling a plumber for an unneeded expense.
Keep checking out our site for more advice for your home or business to keep all your systems running smoothly.