Not all drain clogs are created equally. Sure, you may think about calling a plumber when you’re trying to unclog your drain for the tenth time in a week. But what about the simpler clogs? Clean Flo Sewer and Septic has some tips for you on how to prevent a drain clog!
Always Use a Sink Strainer
One of the best ways to keep any unwanted food out of your kitchen drain is to invest in a sink strainer. It will not only be easier to clean but will save you time trying to clean out your drain and pipes.
Always buy a strainer that fits properly or else it will not collect food scraps to the best of its ability. Inevitably, a sink strainer will get dirty from all of the food scraps it collects, so a good habit would be to clean it out every time you wash dishes. Dump the leftover scraps in the trash that the strainer has collected when it gets full.
Certain Foods are a No Go
Even though it may not always be easy, trying to avoid putting any food down the kitchen drain is ideal for your kitchen drain. Garbage disposals are best used for small amounts of food scraps and not large quantities of food. Try making it a habit to scrape your plate off in the trash before washing the dishes.
Whether you hand wash or put them in a dishwasher then the best idea is to get rid of the bigger pieces of food first. Sometimes it can be difficult to avoid certain foods from falling down the drain, but the most important ones to avoid include:
- Coffee Grounds
- Potato Skins
- Banana Peels
- Eggshells
Use Cold Water when Running the Garbage Disposal
Once you have disposed of the bigger pieces of food into the garbage and the smaller pieces of food into the disposal, then it is time to run the garbage disposal to avoid unwanted odors and clogs. The most important part about running the garbage disposal is to always run the cold water with it.
Turn on the cold water before switching the garbage disposal on and then keep it running for a few seconds after turning it off. If you do not use enough water then the risk of small pieces of food getting stuck in the drain or pipes increases. This can cause unwanted smells from your drain.
Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is running out and buying harsh drain cleaning products to try to fix the problem. Many of these products can erode drains and pipes over a long period of time, especially homes with cast iron pipes. Typically, these products don’t even entirely get rid of the clog completely so you are stuck consistently buying these harsh chemicals to do nothing.
A better solution would be to begin making homemade drain cleaning solutions that actually work and require less harsh chemicals. First, pour a quarter of a cup of baking soda down the drain. Next, pour half a cup of vinegar and allow it to fizz for about 10 minutes. Lastly, flush out the drain with boiling water.
Pour Boiling Water Down the Drain
There are many perks to pouring boiling water down your drain, and Clean Flo recommends doing it once a week. This not only helps loosen the debris stuck in your drain or pipes, but also clears it away. It is very effective against grease buildup that becomes hard over time and it doesn’t even require the use of harsh chemicals or spending money.
Sometimes even following every tip in the book can still lead you to a pesky clog in your drain, so rely on Clean Flo Sewer and Septic to help. We highly recommend a drain cleaning service at least once a year. Schedule an appointment with us today in order to learn more about how to keep your drains clean, or simply leave it up to the experts to get the job done!