When you’re cooking or cleaning around the house, you might have a lot on your hands and think it’s a good idea to flush small items or liquids down the kitchen or bathroom drains.
However, did you know that drain cleaning professionals have seen a wide range of items dumped down the drain that can cause plumbing systems to clog? Let’s take a closer look at the top 20 things you should never flush.
Cooking oils are among the most common items dumped down the drain because it seems convenient after you’ve finished cooking. However, any type of cooking oil, including salad dressing, sauces, and condiments, can clog drains and cause sludge.
Medication, including pills, capsules, and cough syrups, should never be poured down the drain. Pills and capsules, in particular, take a long time to dissolve and will immediately clog your drain. If you have unused or expired medications that you want to get rid of, throw them away in the garbage or check with your local pharmacy to see if they have a medication take-back program.
Toilet paper is named “toilet” for a single reason: it is intended to be flushed down the toilet. Toilet paper is made of cellulose, which causes it to fall apart when wet. If you throw them down the drain, they will not degrade as quickly and will eventually clog your drain.
Rice appears to be small enough to be thrown down the drain. However, rice, whether cooked or uncooked, should never be poured down the sink. Rice swells due to absorption when wet, and when clumped together, it can clog your kitchen pipes.
Any type of car oil, including transmission fluids and additional chemicals such as antifreeze, should be kept away from your drains and pipes. Dumping motor oil, like cooking oil, can clog your drains. Furthermore, motor oil and antifreeze are flammable, making them even more dangerous.
Wet wipes are made with congealed grease and can harm water treatment plants and clog drains. Wipes should always be discarded in the garbage can. If wipes clog your plumbing system for any reason, contact professional drain cleaning services in Toronto for assistance.
Because paints contain chemicals, they should be disposed of at hazardous waste facilities in your area. Never pour them down the drain. If you want to do something good for the environment, choose eco-friendly paint.
8.Fruit peels
Orange, lemon, and lime peels, even in small pieces, can clog your drains. You can scatter them around your home to create a natural aroma before throwing them away.
Because hair is not water soluble, it quickly clogs plumbing systems. This is especially true after washing with shampoo and conditioner. This will make it thicker and clumpier, making it nearly impossible to drain.
Cleaning products, like paint and motor oils, contain hazardous and toxic chemicals. Even though they are in liquid form, you may believe it is safe to pour them down the drain. When you do this, however, these harmful chemicals enter rivers and lakes and harm the environment. Do the environment a favor and throw away cleaning products in their packaging.
Tampons and pads should never be flushed down the toilet. They absorb moisture and expand when dumped in a drain, similar to wet wipes. These sanitary products also contain bodily fluids, which can pollute rivers and lakes.
Because of its thin string, putting dental floss down the drain may appear to be harmless. It can, however, form a tiny net and hold other debris and dirt. It can also wrap around your septic system and clog your pipes because it is not biodegradable.
Condoms are made of latex and do not dissolve in water. Condoms, like feminine sanitary products, contain bodily fluids that are harmful to the environment. To avoid pipe blockage and pollution, always dispose of condoms in a garbage can.
Never pour candle wax down the drain because the heat will quickly cool and solidify. When candle wax hardens in your plumbing system, it can clog your pipes and cause water to drain much more slowly.
Because flour feels light and powdery, you might expect it to disappear quickly down the drain. However, flour thickens and hardens inside pipes, causing drainage issues. To avoid having to call drain cleaning services in Toronto, always dispose of flour in the garbage.
You’ve probably noticed those tiny stickers used as prices and labels on fruit and vegetable packages. They can stick to the walls of your pipes if you peel them off and throw them down the drain. Other debris and dirt can then adhere to them, causing clogging issues in your pipes. If you choose to peel them off, toss them in the trash.
Because coffee grounds are hidden in liquid coffee, they are the most common cause of drain blockages. So, before you wash your mugs in the sink, throw away any leftover coffee grounds and then rinse.
You’d be surprised how many cracked eggshells end up in drains. Did you know, however, that egg shells can be recycled? Even if the egg shells are cracked, you might expect them to disintegrate into small pieces as they pass through your pipes. Even if they are cracked, they can become lodged in your plumbing system, necessitating the use of professional drain cleaning services in Toronto.
Before washing your dishes, scrape off all the bones and place them in a compost heap or throw them away. Many bone splinters will never be flushed down the toilet.
Adhesive bandages, like stickers, can stick to your pipes and cause clogs and blockages. So, once you’ve removed one, toss it in the garbage.
As you can see, dumping these 20 items down the drain may appear to be harmless. However, in the long run, they can harm your septic system and clog your pipes and draining system. So, at all costs, avoid dumping them down the drain!
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