6 Tips to Keep Your Drains Clear

Drains are responsible for filtering and flushing away water and debris, whether it’s food particles down the kitchen sink or shampoo down a shower drain. However, drains often clog themselves in the process of serving this purpose. Common culprits behind clogged drains include:

  • Cooking grease
  • Coffee grounds
  • Hair
  • Soap scum

Here are some ways to keep your drains clear and how to dispose of common coagulants.

Clog-Free Drain Tips

Dispose common clogging waste in other ways

There are several different ways of disposing drain clogging materials other than dumping them down a drain. Save cooking grease in a coffee can and pour it into the trash or throw coffee grounds away in the garbage or add them to a mulch pile. For shower drains, add a screen or drain grate to catch hair and prevent soap scum from draining. Make sure to brush your drains often to prevent hair from accumulating; hair will trap soap and cause soap scum to accumulate.

Rinse kitchen drains with hot water

Hot water makes oils found in food products run faster and easier down the drain. Let your hot water run for a few seconds after pouring food oil down the sink.

Toss some baking soda into the drain

The versatile reliability of baking soda makes for a great cleaning agent. It also absorbs nasty odors, keeping sinks smelling clean and fresh. Periodically sprinkle some baking soda down the drain and run water with it to clean it.

Install strainers in kitchen sinks

Save yourself the hassle of needing to thoroughly clean your kitchen drain by installing a strainer. The strainer will catch food and other particles, ensuring only food oils and water enter the drain. When you need to clean the strainer, simply remove it and toss food chunks and particles into the trash.

Pour a cup of vinegar down the drain

Vinegar is nature’s natural cleaner. Its acetic acid content is an organic solvent that removes organic buildup of foods and other oils in pipes. Pour a cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing. A fix-all solution for drains in showers, sinks and tubs is to prepare a half cup each of baking soda, vinegar, salt and a few quarts of boiling water. First, pour salt and baking soda directly into the drain. Next, add vinegar and let the mix foam for a minute. Chase with two quarts of boiling water for the final step.

Exercise caution with store-bought cleaners

Cleaners from the store are just as effective as DIY concoctions, however, try not to use too much cleaner. Lye, an active ingredient in most store cleaners, is powerful and using too much of it can be harmful to your eyes and lungs. Strictly follow the directions on the label and only use the advised amount.

Get Your Drains Cleaned by South West Plumbing’s Experts

Attempting to deep clean your drains can be tricky, and most market tools and devices only go so far into a drain. However, South West Plumbing’s professional plumbers have the tools and expertise necessary to give your drains a thorough, deep cleaning.

Our plumbers will give you a full-cost quote before performing any work or issuing any charges. Additionally, we only charge by the job – not the hour. Contact South West Plumbing to schedule an appointment and get a quote.