How to Prevent Clogged Drains

Dealing with clogged drains is unpleasant and quite frustrating at times. Many times you are left with a mess when drains begin to clog and flow backward. There are many great products that are on the market that can help eliminate the problem, but if you never had the problem in the first place, you could save money, time and keep yourself from being stressed.

• Clean your sink stoppers on a regular basis. Remove all the stoppers and wash them with dishwashing liquid and water during the week after each meal. Stoppers can easily become filled with food, hair and types of particles.


• Dispose of cooking grease in cans. Do not pour grease down your drain as it can ruin your pipes and cause them to become clogged and trap food bits and other particles in the drain.


• Boil water and pour it down your pipes once a week. This keeps your pipes clear and flowing well. You can boil the water in a small pot or tea kettle. Each drain in your home should be treated.


• Install strainers over all of your sink drains. Installing strainers prevents unwanted items from going down your drain. Strainers can be purchased at most home improvement stores. Make sure to keep the strainers clean and wash them on a weekly basis.


• Flush only products that are marked "flushable" down the toilet. Never flush paper towels or personal hygiene items down the drain if they are not flushable. You could cause your sewer system to become clogged.


• Learn to recognize a clogged drain. When you notice that water begin to drain out of your sink slowly, this is one of the first signs of a clog. Take a plunger and try to break up the clog in the drain before you have a more significant problem.