Clogged drains can lead to big problems for your plumbing. If not repaired quickly and correctly, pipe clogs can lead to foundation damage, home shifting, hazardous sewage backup, home flooding and more. While certain causes of drain blockage are harder to control, such as tree root disturbance, there are certain actions you can take to help prevent drain blockage.

Here are 10 Things You Should Not Put In Your Drain

Toxic Items

When it comes to draining concerns, we often focus on things that might cause clogs, but you also have to consider the risk of flushing toxic chemicals or waste into the public water supply.

Flushable Cat Litter

This one may seem silly because it has the term “flushable” right in the title. The danger comes from the parasite Toxoplasma gondii that can be found in cat feces. If your cat is a carrier, flushing their litter into your drain could not only cause drain clogs but increase the risk of public infection as it enters the water supply.

Car fluids of any kind

Many of the items that keep our cars running smoothly can create massive damage to our pipes as well as put toxic chemicals into the water supply. Just avoid putting any chemicals you use for your car down the drain.

Grease and Oils

Not flushing oil down has become a top priority as the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) started the Beware of The Grease Monster campaign to discourage residents from putting their grease down the sink. The recommended way for handling cooking grease is to reuse it and when you’re ready to discard it put it in a closed container inside of your regular garbage.

Cleaning Products and Medications

Similar to car fluids, cleaning products can release toxic chemicals into the main water supply. Sewage filtration systems cannot effectively remove the chemicals from the water which eventually leads to rivers, lakes and oceans.

Clogging Items

These are things that might not be toxic, but they can create clogs and damage to your pipes.

Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds are responsible for many clogged kitchen sinks. Even if you only rinse a small amount at a time, it can eventually cultivate into a sludgy and sturdy mess.

Latex Products

Latex may seem thin, but it is not biodegradable. It can end up clogging a drain or even worse in the water supply.

Paper Towels and Cotton Balls

Paper towels, cotton balls or any other items made up of cellulose are natural absorbers of moisture. When they absorb water, they tend to expand and can lead to clogged drains.

Feminine Products

Tampons can expand by ten times their original size to absorb fluid. They aren’t biodegradable and are one of the main culprits for public toilet plumbing issues.

Foods that swell

Foods such as pasta and rice propose the same risk as paper products because they absorb liquid and expand creating clogs.  

Tough Fruit Rinds

Fruits with tougher grinds such as lemons or oranges can create a blockage in your drain. People often use citrus fruits to “clean” their garbage disposal. This doesn’t clean your disposal, but it can make it smell better. Instead of cutting a citrus fruit in half and running the garbage disposal try removing the peel and grinding the inside of the fruit. A half of a small lemon or a fourth of a small orange is enough.

Contact Mr. PlumberIf you want to reduce the likelihood of having a clogged pipe, there are a lot of things you can do. By being smart about what you put down the drain and even your garbage disposal, you can make a significant difference. Additionally, having regular inspections or drain cleanings is an excellent way to catch potential issues before they arise. Contact Mr. Plumber today to schedule your drain cleaning.

Related: Will Clorox Bleach Unclog Drains