Drain cleaning is sometimes necessary, no matter how much effort you put into preventing a clog. However, if you know and follow the basics of what should and should not go down your drain, you can dramatically reduce the frequency with which you need professional plumbing services. Here, Baity Plumbing of North Carolina’s Triad Area spotlights five items that should never be sent down your drain.

Paper & Cotton Products

Anything that’s paper or cotton should be recycled or trashed instead of sent down the drain. This category includes baby wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, tampons and napkins. The problem with these products is that they don’t dissolve fast enough to pass through the residential or commercial plumbing system without causing blockages and backups.

Cooking Byproducts

You’re cooking and your sink is right there—it’s easy to drain the pan’s oil or leftover grease into your sink without realizing how much damage it can cause. But oil, grease, fats, poultry bones, rice, coffee grinds and any other cooking-related byproduct should always be disposed of in the garbage rather than your drain. Oils, greases and coffee grinds congeal to cause clogs, while bones and rice are not what your drain was designed to grind and can cause damages to the pipes.

Medications

When you’re feeling better after an illness, it can be tempting to send the rest of your unused cough syrup or smaller pills down the drain. While it won’t cause a clog, sending medications into the pipe system is allowing potentially harmful or toxic chemicals to work their way into the water reserve and potentially cause contamination or harm to water animals.

If you don’t receive them already, annual drain cleanings are a great way to maintain the integrity of your home’s pipes. To learn more about preventing system backups or to schedule a drain cleaning appointment, call (336) 475-0921 or visit the Baity Plumbing website for a full list of services.