8 Things You Should Never Pour Down the Drain

A lot of times, homeowners only think about the drain once it gets clogged and leads to problems. Designed to flush water, a drain pipe cannot handle things, people often drain. From eggshells to leftover cooking oil, folks put down everything they can in order to make the kitchen look clean.

However, it’s essential to stop it right away, else you may experience some plumbing emergencies that call for a reliable local plumber. 

Here are eight things you should never pour down the drain.

1. Coffee Grounds
   There’s no match to coffee when it comes to kicking away laze. However, the coffee grounds aren’t healthy for the drain pipes. The leftover of the French Press has several granules that stick inside the pipe to form a lump, which leads to blockage.
   The best way to deal with it is to clean the press in a bin. Toss the grounds in a dustbin, or you can use them to make compost. 
2. Paint
   You might be wondering who pours paint down the drain. But some people do it accidentally when cleaning their homes. Pouring paint in the drain is not a great practice, as the chemicals present in it are harmful.
   Synthetic paint can form a lump quickly when it dries, and it can lead to stubborn blockage. If there is a little amount of paint in the can, open the lid, and let it dry before throwing it away.
   Another way to dispose of paint is by mixing it with kitty litter. If you have a huge quantity of paint left over after the task, either sell it over or donate it to someone who needs it.
   If you still pour it down the drain, get ready to contact a local plumber in Wahroonga, as clogging caused due to paint is hard to fix.
3. Cooking Oil
   The next time you cook deep-fried chicken, think twice before flushing the oil in the drain. There is a lot of grease present inside the kitchen drain, and when it gets mixed with oil and something greasy, it forms a big chunk.
   This chunk is responsible for trapping the eggshell, thus making the blockage even severe. Unfortunately, your kitchen sink is not the best place to get rid of cooking oil. The good news: you can use the cooking oil for lubricating your gardening equipment like the wheelbarrow and lawn mower.
4. Rice
   If you are fond of making rice or some recipes that involve rinsing the rice thoroughly, you may be blocking the drain. The grain of rice swells up as it absorbs water, so it can lead to clogging the drain.
   When washing rice, use a strainer so that only the water gets poured into the drain. It will even help you save some quantity of rice that gets washed away with water, so it’s a win-win for you.
5. Flour or Dough
   There’s nothing better than making a pizza at home, or those tortilla wraps taste amazing! However, the leftover dough scrape deserves a place in the trash and is now down the drain. If you mix the leftover floor with water and flush it down the drain, it can result in blocking the pipes.
   Just like coffee grounds, dough or flour can be used to make compost for the garden. Or you can leave the dough in the garden for the birds to feast on it.
6. Chemicals
   The term chemicals mean pesticides or other such things people use in their homes. If you also use such things in your garden, then avoid flushing them in the drain.
   The wastewater of your house gets to the local water collection and disposal centre, where it is treated and then sent back to the homes. It becomes challenging for the wastewater treatment centres to remove chemicals from water.
   Moreover, when this water is released in rivers and big water bodies, it affects the aquatic life there. Disposing of these chemicals is somewhat challenging, so you can get in touch with the local Hazardous Household Waste collection centre to know more about the disposal.
7. Paper Towels and Cotton Balls
   One-time use paper towels and cotton balls are biodegradable, but they don’t dissolve immediately. Instead, they absorb water and form a big chunk that’s enough to clog the drain pipes.
   Once you use these items, throw them in the dustbin, as there is no better way to get rid of them. We recommend using reusable towels so that you can keep using them for some time without worrying about their disposal.
8. Flushable Kitty Litter
   The term “flushable” makes people flush the kitty litter every now and then. However, this is not the right description for this product. The cat litter picks up bacteria from the cat’s feces, which causes several problems with the drain pipes.
   Also, it pollutes the water and can even lead to damaging the sewer pipes due to the significant blockage. 

What to Do If my Drain Gets Clogged Due to Any of the Above-mentioned Things?

There are several DIY drain unclogging methods available on the web, but the best way is to call a local and professional plumber. Unblocking the drain can be a serious challenge sometimes, depending on the size of the blockage.

A drain specialist can help you unblock the pipes while repairing the drain issues to help you get rid of any plumbing emergency.

Final Thoughts 

Apart from these eight, there are some other things that you should not put down the drain; these include condoms, eggshells, and female hygiene products. 

At Sydney Plumbers, we are the best local plumber in the area that can help you unblock any type of drain blockage. From repairing broken drains to relining pipes, we offer the best plumbing services at reasonable rates.

Get in touch with us to book your appointment today, or you can get a quick price quote before proceeding.