Death and taxes are not the only things that are inevitable in life. If you have a sink in your home, you have a drain and one day it will become clogged. Learning how to keep your drain pipes clean is important but keeping your drains from clogging in the first place can prevent the problem before it's begun.
The build-up of debris in our drains is not pretty and when we have a clog, we want it out, now. Once you get the clog out, become proactive and keep your drains clear.
What Not To Do
One of the best ways to keep your drains running freely is to be careful what you put down them. Hair, coffee grounds, cooking grease and soap scum are your drains biggest enemies.
What To Do In Advance
Keeping your drains free of clogs will take some maintenance. A little effort now will save you much time in the future. Consider running hot water down the drain after each use. Add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to the water. Baking soda is an excellent deodorizer and will carry any debris such as hair and toothpaste down the drain. Many of the things that would normally stick to the sides of your drain pipe, will contribute to a future clog. Baking soda and hot water will force these culprits down the drain. Once a month follow that baking soda with a cup of vinegar. Then pour very hot water down the drain.
Nasty clogs can be costly and time considering. Even if you manage to keep clogs from your sinks, they can wreak havoc on our pipes. Keeping them clean and free of clogs is imperative. Once a week, gain access to your pipes and clean them. Use a wire brush to clean the sides of the pipes. This will reduce debris and the smells that come from our pipes.
Garbage disposals can be cleaned and sanitized by scrubbing with a brush and running cold water down the disposal. Crushing some ice and table salt into the disposal will do much of the scrubbing for you. Run more cold water down the drain, followed by a lemon or lime to leave your garbage disposal smelling delightful.
Other Ways to Keep Your Drains Clear of Clogs:
- Wash your pets outside when weather permits. The less pet hair and dander down the drain, the better.
- Use mesh traps on all open drains to prevent soap and hair from finding their way down you drains.
- Brush hair before bathing. The more hair you trap in the brush, the less that will find its way down your drain.
- Invest in a quality plunger. This is one of those cases where you get what you pay for.
Follow these tips and you won't have to worry about cleaning your drain for a long time.
Still need help unclogging that tub or sink? A Mckenna Plumbing serves the Mississauga, Etobicoke, Oakville, Milton, and Burlington areas. Contact one of our Oakville Plumbers today!