What should I never put down my drains?

What Should Never Go Down the Drain?

To prevent clogs and expensive plumbing issues, avoid putting these items down any drain:

Kitchen Sink / Garbage Disposal:

• ✔ Cooking grease, oils, and fats – These solidify in pipes, causing major blockages
• ✔ Coffee grounds – They don't break down and create a thick, sediment-like blockage
• ✔ Eggshells – Their membrane lining can wrap around disposal blades and stick to pipes
• ✔ Starchy foods – Pasta, rice, and potatoes expand with water and create a paste-like clog
• ✔ Fibrous vegetables – Celery, corn husks, artichokes, and onion skins can tangle disposal blades
• ✔ Bones and fruit pits – Too hard for disposals to handle, causing damage to blades
• ✔ Non-food items – Plastic, paper, metal, or other non-biodegradable materials

Bathroom Drains:

• ✔ Hair – The primary cause of bathroom drain clogs; use drain covers to catch hair
• ✔ "Flushable" wipes – Despite marketing claims, these don't break down like toilet paper
• ✔ Dental floss – Non-biodegradable and can tangle with other debris
• ✔ Cotton swabs, cotton balls – Expand when wet and don't break down
• ✔ Feminine hygiene products – These expand and don't dissolve in water
• ✔ Medications – Can contaminate water supply and harm aquatic life
• ✔ Kitty litter – Even "flushable" varieties cause clogs and environmental problems

All Drains:

• ✔ Paint, solvents, automotive fluids – Toxic to the environment and harmful to pipes
• ✔ Chemical drain cleaners – Damage pipes with repeated use and can create hazardous chemical reactions

Proper disposal habits are the most cost-effective form of plumbing maintenance. When in doubt, throw it in the trash instead of washing it down the drain. For existing clogs, contact our professional plumbers for safe, effective removal that won't damage your plumbing system.