How to Clean Drains With Bleach

Many items are able to slip down into your drainage pipes over time by slipping through the drain cover. This debris can often be a breeding ground for bacteria which can cause your drains to become diry and develop an unpleasant smell. To regularly clean and maintain your pipes, you should clean them out with bleach once a month to prevent mold or bacteria from forming.

Standard bleach is an effective way to remove mold and bacteria that often form on the inside of your drainage pipes. Bleach kills and disinfects on contact leaving your pipes disinfected and smelling much better.

1. Purchase a standard bottle of bleach from a store such as Wal-Mart. It does not matter what brand you use. They do offer scented varieties that provide a pleasant alternative to standard chlorine beach. There are different varieties such as spring meadows and country garden.


2. Open the child safety cap that is on all bleach containers to protect children from ingesting this harsh chemical substance. Usually this requires you to push down on the cap, and turn it in a clockwise motion at the same time.


3. Find a measuring cup that holds 1 cup of bleach. Pour your bleach carefully into the measuring cup until it is full to the top. Pour the cup of bleach down your drain. Repeat the process so that you have added 2 cups of bleach to the drain you are disinfecting. 


4. Place the cap back onto the open bottle of bleach ensuring that it is on tightly, and that the child safety feature is active to protect any children that may come in contact with it.


5. Turn on the water in the drain you are disinfecting. Allow the water to run for five minutes to wash the bleach out of your pipes and into your sewage system. Bleach can be corrosive to your pipes if it is allowed to sit on the surface.