You’re supposed to unplug the sink or tub and the water magically disappears, right? When you pull the cap and the water just stays there, you might even look at it and wonder what’s going on. If you’re not careful what is sliding down the drain with the water, you may find yourself staring at a sink full of dishwashers refusing to go down the drain. Your drains can become clogged just like your own arteries do if you don’t take proper precautions.
Greasy dish water
Have you ever reached in and pulled out the strainer? When you do this, you are allowing all the food particles and fat lumps to flow down the drain. If the water in the dish has cooled down, the fat has started to freeze. Guess what? Those terrible lumps of grease will get stuck in the curves and walls of the gutters. The grease will even trap food particles as it passes, making the size of the drain smaller and smaller over time. The strainer is designed to catch all dirt before it can collect inside the drain and create a clog.
Adhesive teeth
If you have dentures and use denture adhesive gel, you know how sticky it is. Do you clean your dentures, remove the remaining strips of adhesive, and let it wash down the drain? Do you wet your teeth overnight and then pour the water down the drain? If there are pieces of adhesive floating in that water, it will stick to the walls of the drain like gum. If you have to remove clumps of adhesive from your dentures when you clean them, throw the adhesive pieces in the trash, not the sink.
Dog hair and dander
Anyone who has a long-haired dog knows that his hair goes everywhere no matter how careful he is. If you don’t give your dog a good brush before bathing, you’re washing all that loose hair straight down the drain. The dog hair strands will get caught and twist together, creating a very messy clog in the drain. Keeping your dog brushed and groomed will help alleviate this problem. Use wire mesh filters in your drains, if possible, to collect your furry friend’s hair.
Little children playing in the water
A small child is the worst enemy of drains. They don’t realize that the keys or toys they just flushed down the toilet will cause a clog. They just like to watch it disappear! A child being potty trained also needs to be taught the proper amount of toilet paper to use. Teach them to throw toilet paper in the trash instead of the toilet to avoid clogs in the toilet or drain.
It is also a good idea to teach young children what type of toy is appropriate to take with them in the bathtub. Your child may think it’s fun to watch the little toys go around the drain, but it won’t be fun when the little toy clogs the drain!