List of Things to Avoid Putting Down the Drain

Plumbing systems are complex and delicate and require care to ensure they last longer and work smoothly. One of the most frustrating plumbing problems people hate dealing with is clogged-up toilets and drains. The last thing anyone would want to deal with on a busy workday is an overflowing toilet or a clogged-up kitchen or bathroom drain.    

A primary reason for clogs is the habit of putting everything down the drain. Homeowners are guilty of flushing non-flushable items down the toilet or tossing leftovers in the garbage disposal. They don’t realize that these small things can prove detrimental to the plumbing, eventually causing severe clogs leading to expensive repairs, or worse, complete plumbing system failure.  

Drains are not designed to handle certain items, and those items should be disposed of properly in the trash can. 

Here we list a few things that homeowners should strictly avoid putting down the drain to prevent clogs and avoid mess:

Certain food items

Food items like eggshells, meat, oils, fat, grease, fibrous foods, bones, coffee grounds, flour, vegetable skins, starchy foods, bread, and grains can severely clog the drains. Some of these items clump together and harden along the pipes, while others expand after absorbing water to create blockages. Homeowners would do better throwing these items into the trash.

Diapers and feminine hygiene products

Items like disposable baby diapers, cotton balls, condoms, tampons, sanitary napkins, and cosmetics don’t dissolve in water and can get stuck in the pipes. Even when they sail through the home plumbing, they create clogs in the sewers.    

House cleaning products

Household cleaners and car fluids have chemicals like ammonia and bleach that pollute the water. Consider using natural cleaners and look for city guidelines for ways to dispose of automotive fluids. 

Medication

Avoid flushing unwanted or expired medicines even though they do not harm or clog the pipes. Medications eventually land up in the ocean and leak chemicals that cause severe harm to marine life. 

Paint

Never pour leftover paint into the toilet or drains as it is flammable, contains toxic chemicals that pose a threat to sea creatures, and can stick to pipes to create clogs.

Hair

Finding a drain clogged with a bunch of hair is an unpleasant sight for homeowners. Hair clogs are pretty common, and it is essential to prevent them from finding their way into the drains.

Products marked as flushable

Some wet wipes and cat litter brands mark their products as flushable. However, wipes don’t disintegrate properly, and cat litter increases in size after absorbing water, causing clogs, and the chemicals it contains harm marine life after ending up in water bodies.

Clogs trouble every homeowner. Avoid putting the things mentioned above down the drains to minimize the risk of damage to the plumbing system. Hire a professional plumber if the plumbing gets severely clogged to help clear the clogs and suggest ways to keep the drains healthy and functional.

No Worries Rooter of Gilbert offers residential and commercial drain cleaning, leak detection and repair. We recommend Bio-Green drain care for customers who have slow drains caused by buildup in their pipes. Call us at (480) 405-4497.