Simple Tips to Prevent Clogged Drains in Your Kitchen and Bathroom

A clogged drain can disrupt your entire day, leading to slow drainage, foul odors, and even sewage backups. While some clogs are inevitable, many can be prevented with a few simple changes to your daily habits.

In the Kitchen

Grease is the Enemy

Never pour cooking oil, bacon grease, or fat down the drain. As it cools, it solidifies and traps other debris, creating stubborn blockages. Instead, pour grease into a container and throw it in the trash.

Pro tip: Keep an empty coffee can or jar under the sink specifically for grease disposal. Once full, seal it and toss it in the garbage.

Watch What Your Garbage Disposal Eats

Avoid putting fibrous foods (celery, corn husks), starchy foods (pasta, rice, potato peels), or coffee grounds down the disposal. These can tangle blades or expand in pipes to cause clogs.

• • Run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal

• • Cut large items into smaller pieces before disposal

• • Never put eggshells, bones, or fruit pits down the disposal

In the Bathroom

Catch the Hair

Hair is the #1 cause of bathroom drain clogs. Install a simple hair catcher or mesh screen over your shower and tub drains, and clean it out regularly.

Cost-effective solution: Hair catchers cost $3-10 at any hardware store and can save you hundreds in drain cleaning costs.

Flush Only Toilet Paper

"Flushable" wipes are a marketing myth. They do not break down like toilet paper and are a leading cause of major sewer line blockages. Stick to the 3 Ps: Pee, Poo, and (Toilet) Paper.

Never flush: Cotton swabs, dental floss, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, or any type of wipes—even those labeled "flushable."

Routine Maintenance

Monthly Drain Cleaning

Once a month, pour a kettle of boiling water down your drains to melt away soap scum and minor grease buildup. You can also use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar followed by hot water for a natural, fizzy cleaner that helps keep pipes fresh.

Natural Drain Cleaner Recipe:

1. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain

2. Follow with 1/2 cup white vinegar

3. Cover the drain and let it fizz for 15 minutes

4. Flush with a kettle of boiling water

Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners

If you've tried these tips and still have a slow drain, don't reach for harsh chemical drain cleaners—they can damage your pipes and are harmful to the environment. Call the pros at Cotton City Plumbing for safe, effective drain cleaning services.