If you’re like many people, you’ve probably haphazardly tossed an item or product down the drain that doesn’t belong there. You may even have gotten lucky that time. In other words, you got by without encountering any drainage issues. However, even though the situation didn’t escalate that one time, you might not have the same luck in the future. Knowing what items don’t belong in the drain is an important part of responsible household maintenance. Putting the wrong items down the drain can lead to major messes and massive expenses.
1. Paper Products
Some people falsely assume that toilet paper can go down the drain since this product is safe for the bowl. Any type of paper product, whether it is toilet paper, napkins, paper towels or other items, can create a goopy mess and a big clog in a drain. Even products that are advertised as flushable shouldn’t go down the drain. Whether such items are actually safe for the toilet is questionable, and these products certainly don’t belong in a sink or tub drain.
2. Cookie Dough
When the kids are helping you bake for the holidays or birthday celebrations, you might be too worried about the other messes to think about what’s going down the drain. In fact, when cleaning up from baking, you may put a bowl with batter residue on the sides in the sink and simply start washing the dishes. This batter could end up clogging the drains. Carefully scooping out all of the dough will help keep the drains clear and ensure that no cookies go to waste.
3. Baking Ingredients
Just as fully prepared cookie dough shouldn’t go down the drain, neither should any of the components used to make the treats. Be sure to wipe up flour, sugar, baking powder, and other stray ingredients from the sides of the sink before turning on the water.
4. Grease and Oil
Whether you’re cleaning up from preparing a large dinner or you’re eager to get rid of the grease on the frying pan after making bacon, take some extra time to properly dispose of grease and oil. One popular tip is to let the grease sit and solidify. Then, you can simply put the glob of grease in the garbage. If you put these substances down the drain, they will solidify in the pipes. This solidification can build up and lead to serious problems even in a short while.
5. Food Remnants
After chopping up a head of broccoli or peeling potatoes, there might be some loose pieces of vegetable floating around the sink. Perhaps you’ve just strained pasta, and a few noodles escaped the pot. Rinsing the food down the drain might seem like the easy solution in the short term, but this action can end up costing you time and money later on. Watch out for coffee grinds, too, after you make your morning cup of sustenance.
6. Egg Shells
When you’re cracking eggs for breakfast on a busy morning, losing track of some stray shell fragments can be easy. Before you start washing the dishes, though, wipe down the sink to make sure egg shells don’t end up in the drain.
7. Toys
While the odds are that you’re not the one who is sticking toys down the drain in your house, the kids might be. Little ones might think that they’re giving their toys a bath or sending action figures on a fun adventure. To combat this problem, let your children know that once a toy goes down the drain, that item can’t be retrieved.
8. Paint
Whether the kids are expressing their creative sides with pastels and paper or you’ve decided to add a new color to the living room walls, make sure that the paint is disposed of in the proper manner. Dumping paint down a drain can lead to serious clogs and a big mess.
9. Stickers
Certainly, the stickers from your children’s art supply collection don’t belong down the drain. However, you yourself might be guilty of sending stickers on pieces of fruit down the pipes, which is inadvisable. Check your fruit carefully, and watch for labels on new cooking supplies when washing off the items for the first time.
10. Your Hands
Putting your hand down the drain can become a dangerous, painful situation when a garbage disposal is involved. If your home has a garbage disposal, get both yourself and the kids into the habit of never putting their fingers down the drain. Even without a garbage disposal, you never know what sharp objects could have fallen down the drain with the previous owners.
11. Medication
Dumping medication down the sink is an improper way to dispose of such substances. Get a recommendation from your doctor or from the local pharmacy when it comes to where to get rid of old or unneeded medications.
12. Excess Hair
Of course, completely preventing the spiral of hair down a shower or tub drain is virtually impossible. Still, though, you shouldn’t intentionally send more hair down the drain. Make sure that you’re regularly cleaning out the drain. Too much hair in a drain can add to a greasy buildup and even an overflow in the tub.
13. Floss
Since you spit in the sink after brushing your teeth, you may not think too much of sending floss down the drain upon finishing your regular dental hygiene routine. However, floss can get tangled up when attempting to travel down the pipes.
14. Kitty Litter
Although many modern kitty litter boxes and brands are designed for clean and swift pickup, messes do still occur. After cleaning out a particularly dirty box, you might have particles of both animal droppings and litter on your hands. Wipe these particles off with a paper towel before washing your hands. Even if a litter product advertises itself as flushable, don’t take the risk of sending the particles down the drain.
15. Cleaning Products
While some products, such as dishwashing liquid, naturally end up down the drain, you shouldn’t pour other cleaning solutions in the sink due to the chemicals. Your community likely has a safe place where residents can dispose of unneeded cleaning products.
If you need more guidance about how to maintain your home’s drainage system or if an inappropriate item has accidentally led to a clog, Childers Air Plumbing & Electric is ready to help. We have more than 64 years in the business, and we proudly serve Beckley and the surrounding area.
In addition to dealing with drains, we provide other plumbing services, including work on water heaters, water filtration, and sewers. We offer a full array of HVAC and electrical services too. Whether you’re in need of assistance with surge protection, electrical panels, generators, or indoor air quality, we’re here to assist. Our team members work on heating and cooling systems as well. Be sure to ask about our maintenance plans and financing offers. When you’re ready to get started on your next home project, contact Childers Air Plumbing & Electric in Beckley today.
