One of the most effective ways to a clogged drain is to be aware of what you put into them. Cooking grease, coffee grounds, hair, and soap scum are the four biggest culprits that cause a clogged drain. Do whatever you can to avoid introducing any of these items into a drain! Here are some ways to help you do so:
Avoiding a Clogged Drain
- Save cooking grease in an old coffee can or cardboard milk container. Then dispose of it in the trash.
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Throw coffee grounds away in the garbage or add them to your mulch pile.
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Use a screen or drain-grate to cover the drain’s opening and minimize problems with hair and soap scum. Stop by your local plumbing-supply store to study the choices appropriate for your particular fixture. Take along a picture of the drain system to better explain your needs. Most filters and screens can be simply laid in place.
To keep drains in your home running freely and absent of odor, you can try these methods:
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Run hot water through the sink after each use. Hot water keeps oils in food products running down the drain, rather than building up on the interior surface of pipes, which can make drains sluggish and lead to clogs.
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Throw a handful of baking soda into the drain and follow it with hot water. Baking soda is a terrific cleaning agent, and it’s also great for absorbing foul odors and leaving your drain pipes smelling like a rose. Okay, maybe not like a rose, but a lot better than they otherwise would.
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Pour 1 cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes; then chase it down with very hot water. Vinegar is a wonder cleaner. It contains acetic acid, which acts as an excellent organic solvent in removing organic buildup of crud in pipes.
If a clogged drain is a regular problem at your place, try the following method. It works on drains in sinks, showers, and tubs. You need 1/2 cup each of baking soda, salt, and vinegar and a couple quarts of boiling water. Just before going to bed (to allow the solution to sit overnight, giving it more cleaning horsepower), do the following:
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Pour the salt and the baking soda into the drain.
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Add the vinegar and let the concoction foam for about a minute.
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Chase with at least 2 quarts of boiling water.
For sinks with garbage disposals, you can also try this:
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Fill an ice-cube tray half-full with vinegar and top it off with clear water. Vinegar alone won’t freeze well. Be sure to mark the tray clearly! You wouldn’t want an unsuspecting family member to end up with a mouthful of vinegar.
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Turn the disposal on and then throw in the cubes. Vinegar is a mild acid that cleans the disposal and the drain while the ice literally chills and scrapes grease off its walls.
If you’ve got a clogged drain, Richie ‘D’ Drain Cleaning, LLC offers professional drain cleaning services and sewer cleaning services to the Bergen County and Hudson County area in towns such as North Bergen, Harrison, Hoboken, Union City, Jersey City, West New York, Hackensack, Rutherford, Lodi, Englewood, Bayonne, and many more. For more information, contact us at (201) 583-9339 or visit our website.