Damaged drains are often caused by carelessness. There are a lot of times that different things go down to our drain without our knowledge that it can cause our drains to be broken. It might be handy to just rinse with water and flush it down your drain. But trust us, it’s worth it to throw it in the trash instead. No homeowners want to worry in the middle of the night because their sink is refusing to drain or their toilet is overflowing.

There are a lot of things that you have to keep in mind in order to keep your plumbing in your home in good shape for years. Not only do you have to make sure you’re keeping up with small maintenance tasks, but you also need to make sure that you’re not doing anything that could damage your plumbing. Not only do you need to make sure you’re doing some maintenance work on your system, but you also need to make sure you’re not doing anything to damage your plumbing. Sadly, underlying problems in the drains are often caused by putting the wrong things down them.
Check out these 6 things you should never put down your drain to help you avoid having to pay for an expensive cleaning.

Household Fluids

You might think that it’s fine to pour these fluids down to your drain or flush them in your toilet, but these fluids, such as household cleaners and car fluids contains harmful chemicals that can cause serious drain problems and can mix up into the water system causing your water supply to be polluted and intoxicated. These chemicals can be very dangerous for marine life and can cause erosion in your pipes as well.

Medications

Pills, drops, and other medicines may not cause pipe problems, but when you pour them down to your drain, they can pollute the waterway. If you want to get rid of your unused or expired pills, it’s a good idea to mix them with your other types of waste and dispose of them like you would with your regular waste.

There are also various ways you can do for safe disposal. You can check your local pharmacy if they have a medical waste disposal unit or pre-addressed envelopes that will let you mail in the medications for incineration.

Paint

Similar to cleaning products, paint should never be poured down to your drain even though it is a liquid. The number of toxic substances and chemicals it possesses, like biocide, are so harmful that can be a threat to both humans and the environment once it gets into your local water system.

If you’re done using that pain, be sure that any excess is off the brush by scraping it on the edge of the can. If you have a substantial amount of paint that needs to be disposed of, try finding a household hazardous waste facility in your area that will take care of it.

Stickers

Stickers may seem to be harmless, but these tiny stickers, when gets into your drain, can cause big problems inside your pipes. Stickers are also another type of plastic pollution and are considered to be microplastics. If they end up in the oceans, they can be harmful to marine life.

Grease, Fats, and Oil

These three substances should never be disposed of down on your drain. Whether hot or cold, they will dry off and easily stick to the sides. They act as a binder for all kinds of materials that creates a thick clog until nothing can pass through them. So when it comes to grease, fats, and oils, the best rule of thumb is to place them into a car or a jar to allow them to cool and then throw them in your trash.

Condoms

Condoms are made out of latex which does not disintegrate in water, so never, ever flush them down in your drain. It is best to throw them in the trash or dispose of them at waste management centers. If you flush them, they may end up in the ocean and can be mistaken for food by marine life.

How to Unclog Your Drain the Natural Way

Even if you’ve avoided putting these things down to your drain, there can still be build-ups that causes a clog on it. Rather than pouring another chemical down your drain or waiting for a plumber to arrive, try unclogging it in the most natural way; baking soda and vinegar.

Step 1: Pour a pot of hot water down to your drain.
Step 2: Add one cup of baking soda down to your drain and then pour one cup of water and a cup of vinegar.
Step 3: Wait for about 10-20 minutes for the solution to mix up in your drain.
Step 4: Lastly, pour another pot of hot water down your drain to clear the pipes.

If this method does not work, you should contact a professional plumber right away to access the issue. They have the right tools and training to solve your drain problems in a timely fashion.