The plumbing system is often compared to the bloodstream of a home. For homeowners, a leaking or clogged pipe can be a major nightmare, not only due to the high cost of repairs but also the significant inconvenience and discomfort it causes.
To avoid unnecessary expenses, you should immediately stop pouring the following 7 items down your toilet or sink.
Leftover cooking oil and grease
Many people conveniently pour leftover cooking oil down the kitchen sink, assuming its liquid form allows it to simply wash away. This is a critical mistake.
Grease is only liquid when hot. As it flows into cold pipes, it rapidly solidifies and clings to the pipe walls, much like arterial plaque. This greasy layer then traps other food particles, eventually forming stubborn blockages over time.
Instead, pour leftover oil into a bottle or jar, allow it to solidify, and then dispose of it in the trash.
Coffee grounds
Do not assume coffee grounds are harmless simply because they are fine. When mixed with water, coffee grounds do not dissolve; instead, they clump together, forming a thick, sludgy sediment. This sludge easily settles in pipe bends, eventually hardening and obstructing water flow.
Therefore, dispose of coffee grounds in the trash or use them for composting plants.
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Photo: Marthastewart |
Chemical drain cleaners
It may seem counterintuitive, but powerful chemical cleaning solutions can sometimes be detrimental to your pipes.
Most fast-acting drain cleaners contain strong corrosive chemicals. While they might dissolve clog-causing waste, they also corrode the plastic or metal of the pipes themselves, leading to leaks or ruptures over time. Moreover, these chemicals are highly toxic to the environment.
Prioritize mechanical methods or natural mixtures like baking soda and vinegar instead.
Cat litter
Even if the packaging states it is "flushable", you should not dispose of cat litter this way. Cat litter is typically made from clay, silica, or gel, which are designed to absorb water and clump into hard masses.
When it enters pipes, it expands, forms clumps, and causes severe blockages almost immediately. Furthermore, cat litter can contain bacteria and parasites that may contaminate water sources.
Medication
Flushing expired or leftover medication down the toilet does not cause clogs, but it poses a significant threat to the environment.
Wastewater treatment plants are generally not equipped to filter out complex pharmaceutical compounds. As medication dissolves in water, it can seep into groundwater, rivers, and lakes, poisoning ecosystems and eventually impacting human health.
Crush pills and mix them with coffee grounds before placing them in the trash, or take them to medical take-back programs.
Starchy and fibrous foods
Starches (rice, noodles, pasta, bread) expand significantly when wet, turning into a sticky paste that adheres firmly to pipe walls.
Fibrous foods (celery, corn husks, artichokes) are difficult to break down and easily intertwine into tangled masses, becoming lodged at pipe joints.
Eggshells
Despite appearing brittle and easily crushed, eggshells are a silent cause of blockages. The thin membrane inside the shell is tough and can cling to pipe walls.
Simultaneously, crushed eggshell fragments act like sand, combining with grease and other waste to form a concrete-like mixture that is extremely difficult to clear. Therefore, do not flush eggshells down the sink.
Paint
Paint contains toxic chemicals that can corrode pipes. Pouring paint down the drain can contaminate water sources and damage your plumbing. Always read the label of the paint you are using and dispose of it according to the instructions.
Fruit stickers
Fruit stickers, though small, are very adhesive. When flushed, they often get caught in water treatment filters and can clog pipes. Always remove stickers from fruit and place them in the trash.
Bones and fruit pits
Pipes are not designed to handle hard items like bones and fruit pits. These can damage or break garbage disposals, leading to costly repairs.
By Bao Nhien (According to House Digest)
