Things You Should Never Put Down Your Drain
Protect your plumbing by learning which household items should never go down the drain or toilet—and what to do with them instead.
Your Drains Are Not a Disposal System
Your drains work hard every day, but they are not magical disposal systems. Many common household items can clog pipes, damage plumbing and create expensive problems—even when they appear to wash away without trouble.
Here are 12 things plumbers wish every homeowner would keep out of their drains and toilets.
1. Cooking Grease and Oil
Pouring hot grease down the kitchen sink may seem harmless because it is still liquid. Once it cools, however, it can harden inside your pipes. Grease also traps food particles and other debris, gradually creating a stubborn blockage.
Instead, allow grease to cool, place it in a sealed container and throw it in the trash.
2. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds do not dissolve in water. They can collect inside pipes and combine with grease to form dense clogs.
Place used coffee grounds in the trash, compost them or add them to your garden when appropriate.
3. "Flushable" Wipes
Despite what the package says, flushable wipes do not break apart as quickly as toilet paper. They can become trapped in household plumbing and contribute to sewer blockages.
The safest rule is simple: only human waste and toilet paper should be flushed.
4. Paper Towels and Facial Tissues
Paper towels and tissues are designed to remain strong when wet. That makes them useful for cleaning but terrible for your plumbing.
Throw them in the trash rather than flushing them.
5. Feminine Hygiene Products
Tampons, pads and other hygiene products can absorb water and expand inside pipes. They may cause serious blockages in toilets, sewer lines and septic systems.
Always dispose of these products in the trash.
6. Cotton Balls, Swabs and Dental Floss
Small bathroom items may not look dangerous, but they do not dissolve in water. Dental floss can wrap around debris, while cotton products can expand and become lodged inside pipes.
Keep a small trash can near the bathroom sink and toilet for easy disposal.
7. Eggshells
Garbage disposals do not make everything safe for your drain. Ground eggshells can create gritty waste that sticks to grease and other buildup inside the plumbing.
Place eggshells in the trash or compost them instead.
8. Pasta and Rice
Pasta and rice absorb water and expand. Even after cooking, they can continue swelling and create a sticky blockage inside kitchen plumbing.
Scrape leftover food into the trash before rinsing plates or placing dishes in the dishwasher.
9. Flour and Dough
When flour mixes with water, it creates a paste. That paste can coat the inside of pipes and trap other food waste.
Wipe flour, batter and dough residue into the trash before washing bowls, utensils and countertops.
10. Paint and Harsh Chemicals
Paint, solvents, pesticides and other chemicals can damage plumbing components and contaminate water systems.
These materials may require special handling. Check local household hazardous-waste guidelines before disposing of them.
11. Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter medications should never be flushed or poured down a drain. Wastewater treatment systems may not remove every pharmaceutical compound.
Use an authorized medication take-back location or follow official disposal instructions.
12. Hair
Hair is one of the most common causes of bathroom drain clogs. It tangles with soap residue and other debris, creating blockages that become worse over time.
Use drain screens in showers, bathtubs and bathroom sinks. Remove collected hair regularly and place it in the trash.
What About the Garbage Disposal?
A garbage disposal is designed to handle small amounts of appropriate food waste—not everything left on your plate. Keep grease and cooking oil, fibrous vegetable peels, bones and seafood shells, large amounts of food, pasta, rice and bread dough, coffee grounds and eggshells, and nonfood materials out of your disposal.
Run cold water while using the disposal and continue running it briefly afterward to help move waste through the plumbing.
The Toilet Is Not a Trash Can
Even if an item disappears when you flush, that does not mean it traveled safely through the plumbing system. Toilets are built for only two things: human waste and toilet paper. Everything else belongs in the trash unless specifically directed otherwise by local disposal authorities.
What Should You Do When a Drain Is Clogged?
Avoid repeatedly pouring chemical drain cleaner into the pipe. These products may not remove the entire blockage and can be harsh on some plumbing materials. If a plunger or basic drain-cleaning tool does not solve the problem, or if the clog keeps returning, the obstruction may be deeper in the plumbing system.
Warning signs of a more serious drain problem include multiple slow drains, gurgling toilets, unpleasant drain odors, water backing up into another fixture, recurring clogs, and wastewater appearing in a sink, tub or shower. These symptoms should be inspected by a professional plumber.
Protect Your Pipes and Avoid the Plumbing Hall of Shame
Most drain clogs are not mysterious. They are built one coffee ground, wipe, grease-covered plate or strand of hair at a time. A few better disposal habits can protect your plumbing, reduce unpleasant backups and help you avoid an emergency visit from your plumber.
Need Help With a Stubborn Drain?
Johnson & Sons Plumbing helps homeowners diagnose and resolve slow drains, recurring clogs and other plumbing problems. Call Johnson & Sons Plumbing or complete our online service-request form to schedule plumbing service. Service availability varies by location—contact us to confirm service in your area.
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