How to Keep Your Plumbing Free of Clogs

When it comes to clogged plumbing, it’s something we don’t normally think about until it occurs. Suddenly, we wish we had taken better care of the drains around the home. Don’t worry, we have the advice you need today as we look at the best ways to keep your plumbing free of clogs.

 

Be Sensible

First and foremost, one of the most important tips we can provide is to be sensible with what you throw down the drains. When cooking, don’t pour grease down the sink. It might be a liquid when warm, but it congeals and loses its liquid form when cooled. Therefore, continually putting grease down the sink will eventually clog the plumbing. With grease and old coffee grounds, put them in an old jar or milk container before then throwing it in the trash.

 

Of course, our advice to be sensible applies to the drains all around the home rather than just in the kitchen. Think carefully about what you’re putting down the toilet, in the bathroom, and in other locations.

 

Complete Regular Baking Soda Cleaning

In case you didn’t know, baking soda works wonders as a cleaning agent. Not only will it clean up your plumbing, baking soda will absorb and hopefully remove any foul smells in the system. As long as you follow the baking soda with some hot water, it should treat the pipes and drains nicely. For some people, they choose to create a concoction of baking soda and vinegar.

 

Ensure the Washing Machine Has a Lint Catcher

In the past, we’ve seen plenty of people struggle with the drain hose backing up and getting blocked. With every wash, clothing can leave behind bits of fabric, lint, and facial tissue. Without a lint catcher, this gathers in the drain hose and it’s a matter of time before a problem arises. At a hardware store or home center, you’ll find small mesh traps for the end of your drain hose. As long as you replace it regularly, the plumbing will love you for the help.

 

Try Bacterial Drain Cleaner

You might be reluctant to pour bacteria down the drain, but there’s a form of bacteria that breaks down all organic matter. This means hair, food, grease, and other substances will be broken down. Whether you choose liquid or granules, it isn’t corrosive, and you don’t need to worry about the bacteria in a septic system. We recommend doing it before going to work or bed, since it then has time to work without being interrupted.

 

Use the Garbage Disposal Properly

In our experience, a common problem is that people just turn the garbage disposal on and off when they need it. Instead, we recommend turning the cold water on full before then running the disposal. Once the disposal is off, keep running the cold so that food particles and debris are pushed down. By doing this, you’re limiting what can stick to the drain and cause clogging.

 

Catch Hair in the Shower

In a shower or bath, the biggest problem you face is the combination of hair and soap. Unfortunately, the two substances combine to produce headaches for millions of Americans every year. Much like the lint catcher, there are small filters you can get for the plug hole that will catch hair before it has a chance to go into the plumbing.

Other tips for keeping your plumbing free of clogs include:

• Clean the pop-up stopper in the bathroom sink
• Collect all food waste and recycle
• Put a wastebasket in the bathroom so you’re aren’t tempted to use the toilet for this purpose