How to Protect the Drain From Blockages
The ability to clean up a drain is an important life skill. But what could be better than successfully cleaning the drain? First, you don’t need to do this. The problem is that a lot of people tend to think of draining as a way to get rid of things, regardless of whether our drains are equipped to handle them.
Okay, yes, this is the point of using chutes, but they are only intended to remove food waste, and drains in the sink and bathtub in the bathroom cannot. (And let’s not forget those of us who don’t have trash cans in our kitchen sinks.)
In any case, maintaining the flow is in your best interest. In an article for Hunker, Michelle Miley explains how to do this. Here’s what you need to know.
Don’t ignore existing blockages (even if they are minor)
If you notice that your sink or tub is emptying completely – but this happens over time – you may already have a small blockage. But, since you can still use it technically, you can ignore it and hope it disappears. But it probably won’t. It will continue to grow and deteriorate.
And you shouldn’t just grab a bottle of chemical sewer cleaner and go out of business, says Miley. This can damage your pipes. Instead, she advises using a sink tub or drain snake to deal with it. (And if that doesn’t work, it’s time to call the plumber.)
Do not drain grease down the drain
According to Miley, keep an old coffee can (or other container) under the kitchen sink and pour excess cooking oil into it before washing the pot or pan, rather than emptying it down the drain. And no: turn on hot water for a while after the grease hasn’t worked, she adds.
Don’t litter, keep it clean, keep it clean
While running hot water won’t fix the damage done by grease, Miley says pouring boiling water down the drain once a week is a good way to flush out debris and keep your pipes free and clean.
And here’s Miley ‘s one more helpful tip to keep your drains clean:
Close the drain plug and fill the sink with water to the brim. When the sink is full, remove the stopper and let the sink drain. The water pressure from a full sink can help push small particles out of your pipes and flush them out.
Take care of your hair
Sinks and bathtubs in bathrooms have a tendency to clog up due to hair loss in the drain. If you’re having this problem, Miley recommends that you put a wire mesh lid over the drain grate to catch your hair. Another option is to comb your hair before showering to keep less of it going down the drain.