Never Put These Things Down the Drain in Your Home.

We like to think of drains as some kind of magic hole that makes things disappear. As convenient as it is, unfortunately, they don’t work that way – including those attached to kitchen sinks with a waste chute , all-purpose sinks, bathtubs and showers.

To avoid having to clean out the drain or hire a professional plumber to deal with this situation, here are a few examples of what you shouldn’t install in your home’s drain, even if it’s the easiest way to get rid of it.

Don’t throw these things down the drain

It is a bad idea to pour, throw away, or stuff the following items and materials down the drain at home:

Lubricant and oil

Whether it’s grease left over from cooking or oil you find rancid, don’t pour it down the drain . Even if it is in liquid form, when you throw it away, it can still cause or contribute to clogging, which can damage your plumbing.

cat litter

It should be taken for granted, but cat litter is not thrown away, even if it is flushed. This can lead not only to serious pipe blockages, but also to contamination of the water supply system .

The soil

Repotting houseplants or doing other small gardening jobs in the sink, tub, or shower can be convenient, but if there’s a chance potted soil could end up in the drain, find another place to deal with it.

Firstly, the soil is much denser than it seems, which means it can easily clog pipes. Also, if something gets stuck in there, it can cause a bad smell to come out of your drain.

Coffee grounds

Although coffee grounds are sometimes advertised as a way to deodorize your garbage, coffee grounds should not actually be thrown down the drain. This is because water causes them to stick together and over time they can build up and lead to blockages. Use them in your garden instead.