Keep Your Drains Clean

While it’s not necessary to clean your drains regularly, it’s still a good idea. A clean drain is less likely to get clogged and less likely to smell. To maintain a clean drain, use baking soda and vinegar. (follow the instructions on how to mix baking soda and vinegar) and give yourself some elbow room with a plunger if you ever run into clogs. If you have more than one problem, try snake-ing out your drain first before resorting to chemical products.

Dispose of grease properly

Grease is a major culprit when it comes to clogged drains. The best way to deal with grease is to keep it out of your drain in the first place.

If you have any amount of grease in your sink, pour some baking soda down the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes before pouring hot water down the drain. This will loosen up the clog and help you remove it much more easily than if you tried to do so without baking soda first.

Remove any objects that aren’t supposed to be flushed down the toilet.

If you’ve got your drains clogged, it’s time to get out the plunger. It’s a common misconception that only toilet paper is supposed to go down the toilet—but that simply isn’t true. Any object that should not be flushed can cause a clog in your drain pipes and result in a larger mess than just a slow-running drain.

Don’t flush:

• Baby wipes
• Diapers (or anything else meant for use with babies)
• Cotton swabs/Q-tips (even if they’re made of biodegradable material)
• Tampons or sanitary pads The best way to avoid clogs caused by these items is by simply not flushing them down the drain in the first place! 

Don’t pour coffee grounds or eggshells into your sink.

While you may think that eggshells and coffee grounds are biodegradable, they actually do not decompose. When these items go down the drain, they can get stuck and build up in your pipes. This can cause clogs or slow drains over time.

Don’t pour cooking oil into the sink or garbage disposal.

You should never pour cooking oil down the sink or garbage disposal. Cooking oil can clog drains, so it’s better to collect the oil in a can first and then put it in the trash bag. If you pour the cooking oil down your drain, it will get stuck there.