What Not to Put Down Your Drain (And Why It Matters)

 Learn What Belongs In Your Drain

During your homeowning journey, you’re going to learn a lot - especially if you’re a first-timer. With this being said, it’s important to understand which items belong down the drain, and which ones do not. In the beginning, it may seem harmless to let just anything go into the drain until one day, you notice something goes wrong. You might also not realize that putting certain items down the drain damages your plumbing system. Some materials may clog, slow drainage, cause sewer backups, and a costly repair. Developing an understanding that certain items should never go down the drain protects your plumbing system and prevents emergencies. 

Why Drain Safety Matters

Drain safety matters because it keeps your home running smoothly. What you should know about drains is these fixtures are designed to handle water and waste - not just any old item in your house. Earlier, you might remember learning that placing something that doesn’t belong in your faucet or shower leads to a slow drain, sewer backups, or expensive repairs. Well, that’s not all. There’s also pipe damage and sewer backups to worry about. In some ways, you are in luck, though. There are easy techniques to help you avoid expensive repairs. 

   Things You Shouldn’t Put Down The Drain

For example, you can choose to stop putting grease, food scraps, and wipes out of the drain. This helps you avoid needing professional drain cleaning and pipe repairs. When you put an item that doesn’t belong in the toilet, this creates a clog. For this reason, you and your family will be able to use your toilet any time you need it instead of having to wait for a repair technician to fix it and not being able to use it altogether. 

Do Not Let Grease Go Down The Drain

Let’s move onto specific materials that shouldn’t be going down the drain. The first is grease. Grease might seem harmless, but that’s really just a disguise for the mess it brings. Once it cools after you’re done cooking, it solidifies inside the pipes, trapping food particles and debris. One effective method to stop grease from damaging your drain is to dispose of it in a sealed container and place it in the trash. Before washing a greasy pan, wipe it with a towel.

      Coffee Grounds Cannot Be In The Drain

One other type of material you should never put down the drain is coffee grounds. Many materials dissolve in water when you place it in the drain. With coffee grounds, this is not the case. It’s because this material remains solid instead of dissolving in water. Consequently, coffee grounds get stuck inside the drain pipes, collect in bends and joints, stick to grease or soap residue, build up over time, and lead to clogs. There are alternative uses for coffee grounds, though. For example, you can try composting, use it for gardening purposes, and deodorizing households. 

Flushable Wipes and Personal Hygeine Products Can’t Go Down the Drain

Flushable wipes and personal hygiene products definitely should not go down the drain. Compared to toilet paper, wipes don’t flush down the toilet as easily. Due to their synthetic or semi-synthetic fibers, wipes can’t disintegrate like toilet paper can. Designed to remain durable while wet, this product is helpful for cleaning, yet unsuitable for plumbing. While keeping this in mind, putting wipes in the toilet often leads to clogs. Over time, these blockages could grow and lead to a costly plumbing repair. Types of wipes that shouldn’t be put down the drain include baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, cotton swabs, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, and paper towels. 

  Food Scraps Don’t Belong in the Drain

Another item that shouldn’t be placed in the drain is scraps from breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Certain foods that cause issues include pasta, rice, eggshells, fibrous vegetables, potato peels, fruit pits, and seeds. When it comes to pasta and rice, these types of food usually get stuck in the drain. While it accumulates gradually, it can lead to drain clogs. Similar to coffee grounds, as mentioned before, eggshells remain in the faucet since these foods do not dissolve in water. The same can be said about potato peels. Since this is a food that remains solid, it doesn’t belong in the drain because it can get stuck in the plumbing system. Fruit pits are not supposed to go down the drain since it’s a solid object that can’t dissolve in water and may get stuck in the plumbing system. There’s the same concern with seeds. These are solid objects that can’t be dissolved in water, contributing to plumbing blockages. At the end of the day, you need to be careful with your garbage disposal, even if you have a state-of-the-art kitchen. 

 Soap Scum and Excessive Cleaning Products Should Never Be in The Drain

One other item that definitely doesn’t belong in the drain is soap scum and excessive cleaning products. It builds up over time and may lead to blockage. Just to explain it from a scientific perspective, soap interacts with minerals in water, leading to soap scum that doesn’t rinse away as easily. Over time, it causes pipe interiors to become more narrow. Certain chemicals that should never be poured down the drain include paints, solvents, harsh cleaners, and automotive fluids.

Hair and Pet Fur Can’t Be Put In The Drain

Hair and pet fur is another item that doesn’t belong in the drain. It tangles easily and forms large blockages over time. You might choose to ignore this issue. Any day now, though, you will see why this isn’t such a good idea. Imagine looking forward to a peaceful shower at home, only to find a gross, disgusting clump of hair at the bottom of the drain. Other debris gets trapped in there, too, such as soap scum and dirt. What’s true is that you’re definitely better off finding a solution to avoid blockage altogether. For example, you can install a drain screen, regular cleaning routines, and brush pets away from sinks and tubs. 

Medication and Household Chemicals Don’t Belong In The Drain

Medication and household chemicals should never go down the drain either. It has a negative impact on the environment. This type of item might seem harmless to send down the drain, but what you should know is water treatment facilities don’t always remove them. It means these medications may just sit in a landfill. There are some better safety disposal options, such as community take-back programs, pharmacy disposal programs, and local hazardous waste collection sites. 

    Benefits of Hiring Professional Help For Drain Cleaning

During your homeowoning experience, it’s important to learn about the benefits of hiring professional help to clean your drain. For starters, experts know how to perform a proper inspection and diagnosis. Specialists understand the right way to remove stubborn blockages. Repair technicians know how to use professional equipment. Protecting the long-term health of your plumbing system is theone of the  most important part of homeowning. Do whatever you can to keep your plumbing system running smoothly. 

The Importance of Using Your Drain Properly

In conclusion, there are a lot of different items that should never go down the drain. After reading this article, you now understand what belongs in drains and what doesn’t. Seek professional assistance the second you notice signs of blockage or frequent drainage problems. It’s definitely a good rule of thumb to take care of a minor problem right away, so it doesn’t turn into a bigger one. Call an expert plumber for drain inspection, cleaning, and preventative maintenance to ensure your drain is working just right.