10 items you shouldn’t put down the drain (but probably do)

While blocked drains can occur through no fault of your own, the biggest problem we face at Drain Doctor is people mistreating their drainage systems by putting unflushable items down drains.

Christmas is the most hectic time of year for businesses. Unfortunately, it can lead to managers or employees not paying attention to the small details, including throwing stuff down the drain that can cause severe damage.

Save yourself the time and expense of calling out a drainage technician by having a read of our list of top 10 items you shouldn’t put down the drain, but probably do.

Fats, Oils, Grease (FOG)

FOG is a drainage technician’s worst nightmare. Not only does FOG stick to the inside of pipes, but will also solidify when chilled, eventually causing blockages and contributing to fatbergs. Although everybody knows not to do this, a recent poll revealed that almost half the population admitted to still pouring FOG down the drain, despite awareness of fatbergs being on the rise.

Save your wallet from costly blocked drains and make sure you properly dispose of FOG. For detailed advice on how to best get rid of FOG, take a look at this article.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are thought to be one of the biggest offenders (alongside FOG) for blocking drains. Though it might seem innocent enough to let coffee grounds go down the drain, they can wreak havoc on your drainage systems since they aren’t totally water soluble. Over time, coffee grounds can build up and clog drains – this is made all the more likely if you are also pouring FOG down drains.

Since coffee grounds are so beneficial for plant-life, the most environmentally friendly way to get rid of coffee grounds is to compost them.

Egg Shells

A perhaps less obvious item you should never put down the drain is egg shells. Not only do egg shell fragments add to and progress other blockages, they can also be quite damaging for your sink. This is particularly true if you have a garbage disposal. The hard outer-shell can weaken the blades while the egg’s membrane may detach and wrap itself around the grinding apparatus.

Just like coffee grounds, egg shells should ideally be composted to avoid damage to drainage systems.

Pasta/Rice

Expandable foods, such as pasta and rice, can prove devasting for your drainage system. Rice may all too easily slip down the drain and expand once it’s absorbed water. Additionally, pasta can often be coated in a sticky semolina flour which, much like FOG, can cause food remnants to cling to the inside of pipes and produce blockages.

To avoid this, consider investing in a sink strainer that effectually traps food wastage before it goes down the drain.

Flour

If you’ve ever mixed flour and water together, you’ll know it makes a thick and sticky paste which can easily coagulate and coat the insides of your pipes – not ideal for drains. That’s why it’s always best to throw any excess flour into the bin instead of putting it in the sink.

Produce Stickers

While it’s safe to assume most people wouldn’t deliberately put produce stickers in the drain, they can easily slip down the sink when you wash fruit and veg. This is problematic as they are generally made of plastic and therefore do not biodegrade. These pesky produce stickers can compile with other drain wastage to eventually block drains.

Remember to put stickers in the bin prior to washing fruit and veg or make use of a sink strainer to catch them for you.

Toiletries

This ranges from feminine hygiene products to cotton balls but, it is wet wipes in particular that have proven to be a huge problem for fatbergs in the UK. Even wipes that claim to be ‘flushable’ can pose more of a risk to drain blockages since they encourage a misconception that these are safe to flush. In reality, these so called ‘flushable’ wipes will often contain plastic which means they do not biodegrade quickly. Back in 2017, an investigation into UK sewer blockages found that wet wipes accounted for 93% of the material causing blockages.

Always throw your used toiletries in the bin or try to find an environmentally friendly alternative.

Medications

It is highly dangerous to put any drugs down the drain and should never be done. This is because wastewater treatment plants cannot remove medications from water which results in them entering the environment and even returning to our drinking water. This can lead to a variety of problems, including antibiotic resistance.

The only way to safely dispose of unused or expired medications is to take them to your local pharmacist who will have access to a medical waste disposal unit.

Toxic Chemicals

As is the case with medications, wastewater treatment plants can’t remove harmful chemicals that are contained in cleaning products, paints, oils and solvents. These chemicals will eventually reach the ocean and pollute the environment.

Condoms

Did you know that approximately 20% of men flush used condoms? Not only does this contribute to the growing issue of fatbergs, but it also poses an environmental problem. Flushed condoms will inevitably end up in the ocean where they can be mistaken for food by various sea creatures. Due to the chemicals used to preserve the shelf life of condoms, it is estimated that it would take roughly 30 years for the latex to break down in the ocean.

Best practice is to throw used condoms in the bin since the latex has a better chance of breaking down on land and won’t pose a threat to our already plastic infested oceans.

Should you encounter a blocked drain due to items that have been put down there, our drain unblocking service will help resolve the problem. Once the drain is unblocked and free flowing again, remember to avoid putting any of the items listed above down the drain.