12 Things You Should Never Put Down the Drain
Keeping Your Pipes Happy and Healthy
Hey there, homeowners! We know it's tempting to treat your kitchen sink like a magical portal that can whisk away all your unwanted scraps and leftovers in the blink of an eye. But the truth is, not everything is meant to go down the drain – and ignoring this fact can lead to some serious plumbing woes down the line. So, to help you keep your pipes happy and healthy, we've compiled a list of 12 things you should never, ever put down your drain. Let's dive in!
1. Coffee Grounds: While it might seem harmless to dump your morning coffee grounds down the sink, they can actually clump together and create stubborn clogs over time.
2. Eggshells: Despite their seemingly innocent appearance, eggshells can stick to the sides of your pipes and cause blockages.
3. Grease and Oil: Pouring grease or oil down the drain might seem convenient, but it can solidify and constrict your pipes, leading to major backups.
4. Rice and Pasta: These starchy foods can absorb water and swell up in your pipes, causing blockages that are difficult to clear.
5. Fibrous Foods: Items like celery, onion skins, and corn husks can get tangled in your garbage disposal and cause it to jam.
6. Medication: Flushing unused medication down the drain can contaminate water sources and harm aquatic life.
7. Paint: Paint contains chemicals that can leach into the water supply and cause environmental damage.
8. Produce Stickers: These little stickers might seem harmless, but they can get stuck in your pipes and cause blockages.
9. Bones and Fruit Pits: These hard items can damage your garbage disposal and wreak havoc on your pipes.
10. Potato Peels: Like rice and pasta, potato peels can swell up in your pipes and cause stubborn clogs.
11. Bleach: While bleach is a powerful cleaning agent, it can corrode your pipes and harm the environment if not used properly.
12. Honey: Honey might seem innocent enough, but its sticky consistency can coat your pipes and trap other debris, leading to clogs.
Now, you might be thinking, "But I have a garbage disposal – doesn't that mean I can put anything down the drain?" Not quite! While garbage disposals can help break down certain food scraps, they're not equipped to handle everything on this list. Plus, even if your disposal can grind something up, it doesn't mean it's good for your pipes or the environment.
So, what can you do to keep your sink drain clean and clog-free without resorting to harsh chemicals like bleach? Here are a few natural cleaning tips to try:
- Hot Water and Vinegar: Pouring a mixture of hot water and vinegar down your drain can help dissolve grease and loosen buildup.
- Baking Soda and Lemon Juice: Sprinkling baking soda down the drain followed by a squeeze of lemon juice can help neutralize odors and break down residue.
- Boiling Water: Simply pouring boiling water down the drain can help melt away grease and flush out debris.
By avoiding these 12 common culprits and incorporating these natural cleaning methods into your routine, you can keep your sink drain happy and healthy for years to come. So here's to clean pipes and hassle-free plumbing – cheers! 🚰✨
