It might be tempting to treat your sink’s drain like a rubbish hole while you’re cooking in a hurry or just attempting to get rid of stuff you no longer need. However, some of the things you put down in the drain might negatively influence you, the environment, and your property.
Here are a few items you should avoid dumping down the drain
Rice
Uncooked rice should not be poured into the sink. Rice grains may expand and clump together when wet, as everyone who has ever cooked rice knows, and these clumps can clog your pipes.
Eggshells
Eggshells are porous and sticky so that they may stick to the inside of your pipes. As this hard, slimy mass builds up, your pipes will become clogged.
Bleach
Don’t pour bleach or any other harsh chemicals down your sink. Instead, dispose of these items in the trash. Strong chemicals like bleach can damage your pipes and, in the case of bleach, increase your risk of developing a rash, red eyes, and respiratory problems.
Pesticides
You should never put pesticides or bug sprays down the drain. These products carry health risks and are bad for the environment. If you live in an older home, you may have lead pipes running through your home’s water supply, which could be eroded by these chemicals.
Cooking Grease
Even though you may be tempted to pour grease down the drain, you should never do it. The grease can solidify in your pipes and form clogs. In addition, the build-up of grease can release unpleasant odors and lead to a messy situation when it comes time to clean your pipes. Don’t put cooking oils down the drain to keep your pipes clean and odor-free. Instead, always place them in the trash.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds may be convenient to dispose of down your sink’s drain, but they can cause your plumbing problems. Coffee grounds can lead to clogged pipes because they are hard to flush down the drain.
To avoid clogs, you should use the trash to dispose of your coffee grounds. This will also prevent unpleasant odors.
The Right Way to Clean Your Drains
There are some things that you can put down your drain to keep it clean and smelling fresh:
Salt Water
If you’re out of commercial drain cleaners, you can try pouring saltwater down your drains. The salt and warm water will help kill bacteria and dissolve clogs.
Vinegar
You can also try using vinegar to clean your drains, which can remove soap scum from the pipes and kill bacteria and dissolve hair and soap scum.
Commercial Drain Cleaners
You can always try commercial drain cleaners when all else fails to clear your clogged drains. Commercial drain cleaners are considered to be more effective than home remedies and can be purchased at your local grocery store or hardware store.
They use a variety of chemicals to dissolve hair and other gunk that has collected in your pipes. Always read the instructions carefully before using commercial drain cleaners. Be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves and glasses.
Conclusion
Each day, tons of garbage and other material pass through our drains. If we aren’t careful, these materials can build up in our pipes and cause clogs, leading to costly plumbing repairs.
In addition, clogs and backups can cause overflows and floods, which can cause extensive damage to your home. To prevent this from happening, it is advised that you never put certain materials down the drain. By taking a few precautions and knowing what “should not go down the drain,” you can prevent clogs and keep your drains flowing freely.
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