We take many things in life for granted. One good example of this is our plumbing system. Admit it: we pour most things down the drain without another thought, and only when a clog happens that we think about everything we dispose of in this way.

For this reason, you have to stop pouring everything down in the first place so you won’t have to call for a plumber later on. Aside from preventing clogs, not pouring down certain things down the drain can help your water supply maintain its cleanliness.

In this article, we list down seven objects you should never pour down your drain. Read on to know more about them.

1. Coffee Grounds

Old habits die hard, and one very old habit that’s still widely practiced today is pouring leftover coffee down the drain. You might think that it’s all good since coffee is liquid, but have you forgotten about coffee grounds?

Coffee grounds may be small, but regularly pouring coffee with visible grounds down the drain causes a build-up, leading to a clog. To reduce your home waste and prevent drainage issues, use your coffee grounds for composting instead.

2. Grease and Oil

The next time you fry your food, think very carefully about pouring the grease down the drain. Grease and oil can solidify in your drain, which causes a clog that can be pretty hard to fix. Try to minimize how much oil goes down the drain in different ways. For example, you can use leftover cooking oil or grease to cook another dish.

3. Rice

While rice grains may appear small, they can be an issue inside narrow pipes. Rice is typically cooked with boiling water, so it will absorb water if rice is stuck to your pipes. This leads the rice to expand and cause a clog.

4. Flour (and Dough)

If you know how to bake, then you know that flour solidifies when mixed with water. Pouring flour down your drain will only cause clogs, so be sure to dispose of them before washing your bowl or egg beaters at the sink.

5. Medications

Medications are one of the more dangerous things you should never pour down the drain under any circumstances. This is because they’re made of chemicals that can potentially pollute the waterway.

There are many ways to dispose of medication properly. The easiest way is by going to your local pharmacy because they might have proper protocols for medical waste disposal. Aside from that, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) hosts the National Drug Take-Back Day every year during April and October, where they accept medications that need to be disposed of.

6. Cleaning Products

Similar to medications, cleaning products also contain harmful chemicals that can damage your drains, such as bleach and ammonia. Your best course of action would be to contact your local Hazardous Household Waste collection center to know if they’re collecting the chemicals in question.

7. Toiletries

Flushing toilet paper down the toilet is fine because it’s specifically designed to break down when it absorbs water. However, flushing too much toilet paper can be a problem because there may not be enough water to go around for absorption.

Wet wipes are also something you shouldn’t flush down the drain because, unlike toilet paper, they don’t break down when absorbing water. The “flushable” kind of wipes are also not recommended to be flushed because they still take a long time to break down, which can cause clogs eventually.

Conclusion

Taking care of your drainage system is relatively easy as long as you avoid pouring everything down the drain. If you pour things without any care in the world, then your quality of life will be affected because water won’t go into your home.

If you’re looking for professional plumbers in San Fernando Valley, look no further than Candu Plumbing & Rooter! We know that plumbing issues can occur at any given time, which is why we offer 24/7 plumbing services—when you call us, we’ll be there. Contact us today to learn more!