Some of the biggest problems people face within their homes are problems with their drains. Over time, drains can begin to slow down due to the accumulation of gunk and grease. Eventually, these same drains will end up clogging up, requiring either a DIY drain cleaning or in the worst scenarios, having to hire a plumber to come out and clean the drains. And trust us, no one wants that to happen.
To help our readers keep their drains in better condition, and be able to clear the drains themselves if they do become clogged, we’ve decided to write this guide on the subject. We hope that this guide arms everyone who reads it with the information they need to keep their home drains in the best condition possible. With that premise established, let’s kick things off with the things that tend to clog up most drains.
The Particles That Clog Most Drains
Although there are all kinds of things that can clog a person’s sink or shower drain, the most likely culprit is one of five different materials. Below are the items that most commonly clog most drains, so let’s take a look at them quickly before moving on.
- Hair
- Cooking Grease
- Coffee Grounds
- Food Waste
Keeping Drains Clog-Free
Now that we know the most common culprits when it comes to drain clogs, it’s pretty easy to keep those items from going down the drain in the first place. Below are some of the tips we recommend for keeping those drains nice and clear.
Step One: Dispose Of Items Differently
A lot of people think of their drains as a primary waste disposal system. This means that they pour grease/oil down it, dump their coffee grounds into their garbage disposal, or simply fail to clean food debris out of their drain strainer. All of those items will eventually end up clogging the drain. Fortunately, there are better solutions.
One thing that a person can do is to change how they dispose of the common clog culprits. This means disposing of grease/oil in a separate container and throwing it away instead of pouring it down the drain. It also means reducing the amount of food you feed into your garbage disposal system and throwing it away instead. And one of our biggest recommendations is for people not to put coffee grinds in their garbage disposal at all. Instead, throw those coffee grinds away or add them to the compost pile.
Step Two: Run Hot Water Down The Drain Regularly
Another step to helping prevent clogs is to run hot water down the drain after each use. It doesn’t have to be a lot of hot water, just a few seconds is usually enough to dissolve a small number of oils or grease and get everything moving through the pipe.
Step Three: Don’t Flush These Items
The next thing to think about when it comes to your home’s plumbing is what you’re flushing down your toilet. What does that have to do with your drains? Well, many sink problems are actually because the line is actually clogged further down the system where the home’s plumbing connects with the city’s system. And that’s usually from flushing the wrong items. The only things that should be flushed down your toilet are human waste (poo and pee) and toilet paper. Don’t flush anything else, particularly not the following items:
Do Not Flush:
- Baby Wipes
- Diapers
- Paper Towels
- Condoms
- Dental Floss
- Tampons Or Sanitary Pads
Step Four: Use A Drain Protector
Regardless of whether you’re doing dishes or taking a shower, it’s important to use a hair catcher or drain protector. There are some great models of these available and those include Tub Shrooms, which do a great job of catching hair and preventing it from going down the drain. Whatever drain protector you use, however, be sure to clean it out regularly.
Step Five: Keep The Drain Flowing
Another trick for keeping the drain flowing is to use baking soda and hot water in the drain. Just pour baking soda into the drain and follow it with hot water. It does a great job of clearing a drain. Another trick is to add a cup of vinegar down the drain and allowing it to sit for half an hour before running hot water down it. Vinegar is full of acetic acid, which does an amazing job of dissolving organic components.
For people who have significant trouble with their drains, they might want to try our special formula for keeping drains running. We’ve outlined our special drain cleaning solution below—just following the below steps:
- Pour 1/2-cup of baking soda and salt into the drain.
- Add a 1/2-cup of vinegar and let the foaming mixture sit for 60-seconds.
- Pour 2-quarts of boiling water down the drain.
Step Six: Use A Quality Drain Cleaner
Sometimes the only thing a person can do is to deal with a drain clog after it’s happened. In those instances, you’re going to want to make sure that you use a quality drain cleaner. A product that will attack the clog and do it without causing damage to the pipes. Below are some tips that will help all of our readers find and use the best drain cleaners available for their home.
- Choose between a liquid or granulated drain cleaner.
- Wear proper safety equipment while using the drain cleaner.
- Always follow the drain cleaner’s instructions fully.
- Be careful how you store your drain cleaner to keep it away from children and pets.
If you do the above things, then you can rest assured that your drains will flow more freely than they ever did before. Remember, proper drain care is a great way to keep you from having to deal with the hassles of a clogged drain. However, if you do eventually end up with a clogged drain, taking decisive action with a quality drain cleaner will ensure that the clog’s stay is a short one.
