You’re supposed to unplug the sink or tub and the water magically disappears, right? When you pull the stopper and the water just sits there, you might even look at it and wonder what’s going on. If you’re not careful about what goes down the drain with the water, you may find yourself looking at a sink full of dishwater that refuses to go down the drain. Your drains can clog just like your own arteries if you don’t take the proper precautions.
Oily dish water
Have you ever reached in and pulled out the strainer? When you do this, you are allowing all the food particles and clumps of grease to flow down the drain. If the water in the dish has cooled, the fat will have started to freeze. Guess what? Those nasty clumps of grease will get stuck in the bends and walls of your drains. Grease will even snatch up food particles as it passes, making the drain size smaller and smaller over time. The strainer is designed to catch all the dirt before it can collect inside your drain and create a clog.
denture adhesive
If you have dentures and use denture adhesive gel, you know how sticky it is. Do you clean your dentures, pull off any remaining strips of adhesive, and let it wash down the drain? Do you soak your teeth overnight and then pour the water down the drain? If there are bits of adhesive floating in that water, they will stick to the drain walls like gum. If you have to remove clumps of adhesive from your dentures when you clean them, throw them in the trash, not the sink.
Dog hair and dander
Anyone who owns a long-haired dog knows that their hair goes everywhere no matter how careful they are. If you don’t give your dog a good brushing before bathing him, you’re washing all that loose hair right down the drain. Strands of dog hair will get caught and twist around each other, creating a very messy clog in your drain. Keeping your dog brushed and groomed will help alleviate this problem. Use wire mesh strainers in your drains, if possible, to catch your furry friend’s hair.
Little children playing in the water
A small child is the worst enemy drain. They don’t realize that the keys or toys they just flushed down the toilet will cause a clog. They just like to watch it disappear! A child who is being potty trained also needs to be taught the proper amount of toilet paper to use. Teach them to throw toilet paper in a trash can instead of down the toilet to prevent toilet or drain clogs.
It’s also a good idea to teach young children what type of toy is appropriate to take into the tub with them. Your child may think it’s fun to see the tiny toys going around the drain, but you won’t find it fun when the tiny toy clogs the drain!