10 Things That Shouldn’t Go Down Your Drain

I’m sure we are all guilty of putting things down our drains that shouldn’t have been. Every mess we create goes down the drain sometimes. It seems like a great idea but, in reality, it’s causing huge problems in the pipes. Problems include blockages and buildup, and many times, you’ll need to hire a plumber. Luckily, EJ plumbing has experienced professional plumbers that can help with the problem.

While there are some things that can safely go down the drain, there are many things that shouldn’t. Here is our breakdown of dos and don’ts!

Here Are The Items That Should Never Go Down Your Garbage Disposal

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds don’t dissolve in water, which leaves them coating pipes or mixing up with other things that have been washed down the drain. When this happens, it can cause backups and blockages to occur.

Eggshells

Eggshells break down into tiny granules that mix with things like grease and oil. When this happens, it can cause clogs in the drain.

Grease

Grease can mix with other debris that is put down the drain, such as coffee grounds or egg shells, and can cause major blockages.

Fats and oils

Just like grease, fats and oils can mix with other debris that is put down the drain and can cause build up and clogs in the drain. Fats and oils also coat the walls of your pipes, eventually causing a clog.

Some of the fats and oils that commonly cause issues after being put down a drain include:

• Grease from meats
• Chicken trimmings and skin
• Trimmings from other meat
• Cooking oil
• Shortening
• Mayonnaise
• Motor oil
• Salad dressing
• Peanut butter

Produce Stickers

Produce stickers can get dropped in the sink without being noticed when you are washing your fruit. These tiny little stickers don’t break down, which can cause clogs in your pipes and cause issues in water filtering plants.

Paper Towels

Paper towels are made to hold up to water, so flushing them or putting them down your kitchen sink is not a good idea. It will take a long time to disintegrate, which can cause serious clogs.

Flushable Wipes

Even though these products are described as “flushable”, they take much longer than toilet paper to fall apart in water. In most cases, even for your toilet’s drain, flushable wipes contribute to fatbergs.

Melted Candle Wax

Candle wax hardens quickly once it is cooled off, so putting it in your drains will likely cause a blockage. If it doesn’t block instantly, the hot wax will coat the walls of your drains.

Pasta

Even fully cooked, pasta will continue to absorb water and will eventually become very sticky. Pasta becomes so sticky that it is glue-like. This can be devastating for your drains.

Rice

Like pasta, rice will continue to absorb water when they get into the drain. When rice absorbs water, it swells, leading to blockages.

Things That Are Safe to Put Down Your Drain

Anything That You Would Drink

Things that can wreak havoc on our pipes are put down the drain every single day. Many times, we just don’t know that it can cause problems when we do this. There is a long list of products that shouldn’t be put down the drain, so to make it easier to remember, only put beverages down the drain.

Keep in mind for your kitchen, your garbage disposal isn’t meant to grind your food byproducts into small debris. The disposal is actually just a set of small hammers swinging at high velocity and they are only meant to break down small bits of leftover pieces of material after washing plates.

If it is too late and you’re already having an issue with your pipes and need drain cleaning, send EJ Plumbing a message or give us a call. We can help.