The Most Harmful Items Dropped Down the Drain
Plumbers find strange items in toilet traps and drains all the time. Typically, individuals or their children will overestimate their toilet’s capabilities and will flush away items that should be disposed of. Oftentimes, harmful items are also dropped down the bathroom drain or garbage disposal, which will either cause a drain clog right away or will build up over time and eventually cause a clog.
In the Kitchen
Kitchen clogs can cause a big problem when you are trying to cook or clean. To avoid a problem, it is important to watch what you are dropping down the drain. In the kitchen, the worst items to drop down the garbage disposal include the following:
- Grease or cooking oil
- Stringy, fibrous fruits or vegetables
- Animal bones
- Poultry skins
- Hard items that do not dissolve
Make sure that you have a strainer in place to catch any large food items before they go down the disposal. You should also clear off any plates and cooking utensils into the trash before washing dishes. This will help to minimize the amount of food you are putting into the disposal.
In the Bathroom
Most bathroom drain clogs are caused by individuals dropping items in the toilet that can quickly cause a clog. The most common causes for a bathroom clog include flushing the following items:
- Paper towels
- Cotton balls
- Sanitary items
- Large cotton or paper items
Typically, placing a wastebasket conveniently near the toilet can help to encourage disposing of waste in the trash, rather than down the toilet. You may also consider investing in drain stoppers or strainers, which can help to catch hair, small soap pieces, and other items that would otherwise cause a clog.
Choose Enzyme Treatments
Did you know that generic drain cleaning products can actually cause significant harm to your pipes and plumbing fixtures? Along with being harmful to the environment, they can also cause damage to your home and even your health. Harmful cleaning solvents typically strip the pipes, which can cause more costly damage in the long run. This is why it is important to choose a safe and effective enzyme treatment instead.
If you have dropped an item in the toilet or down the drain and have caused a clog, make sure to call your Roto-Rooter plumber as soon as possible so that the problem can be taken care of quickly.