10 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT DOWN THE DRAIN
Even if you have a garbage disposal, there are certain substances that should be properly disposed of. To avoid clogs and problems with your system, take a moment to refresh yourself
on these troublesome clog culprits and water polluters..
COFFEE GROUNDS
Since coffee grounds are not completely water-soluble, when grounds mix with butter, oil or grease already coating the pipes, there’s an increased risk for clogs.
BUTTER AND MARGARINE
Even when melted, butter and margarine can congeal and build up over time creating water-resistant barriers.
COOKING OIL
Oils are a major contributor to clogs and mix with other debris to create sludge. This also includes items such as, salad dressing, sauces and mayonnaise.
GREASE AND OTHER FATS
Like oils, leftover fats and grease from cooking can congeal, blocking drains and allowing other debris to cling onto the inside of pipes. This leads to the increased risk of clogs.
EGGSHELLS
Not only are the shells hard on disposal blades, the egg shell membranes can wrap around the grinding device. Once ground, the tiny bits of the shell can compound other blockages.
MEDICATION
While there’s no real danger to your drain or pipes, the addition of pharmaceuticals into the water presents an environmental risk. It’s best to dispose of old medication in a sealed container in the trash can
PASTA
Since pasta and noodles absorb water, they will continue to expand with more exposure to water each time you run the faucet and the sticky flour can gum up the pipes or fill the disposal trap.
RICE
Rice grains can easily slip down the drain, however, once rice is in your pipes, it will absorb more water and swell.
FLOUR
Flour, when mixed with water, creates a glue-like substance which can create clogs in your pipes.
PRODUCE STICKERS
They may fall off easily in the sink while washing your produce, however, the plastic and adhesive stickers are not water-soluble.
