Among the most inconvenient of clogs is a blocked kitchen drain. Using your kitchen sink every day, you depend on a clear, happy drain. This allows you to wash your dishes, clean produce, and prepare food. With a blockage, you’re going to face difficulties at every turn.

Fortunately, a blocked kitchen drain is a problem that can be fixed. With the help of blocked sink plumbing experts from Brisbane Blocked Drains, we’ll find the right solution to your clog concerns and you’ll soon have a smoothly flowing drain once again.

However, as we depart, we may want to remind you of an essential point: there are some substances that should never be flushed down the kitchen sink drain. If you’re guilty of disposing of any of these down the kitchen sink, you may have unwillingly contributed to your now blocked kitchen drain. Want to ensure your kitchen drains are kept clear in the future? Be sure to avoid pouring these 5 things down the drain:

Cooking oils / grease / fats

The biggest culprits in blocked sink plumbing are items you use in cooking. Cooking oils and grease residue on dishes and cookware should never be rinsed into the sink. These stick like glue to the walls of your pipes, catching other debris in their path. Animal fats and liquids are also prohibited from the dish drain. These will harden upon cooling and create the potential for a serious clog. Oil and grease can create plumbing problems that affect not only your personal home, but can wreak havoc on the surrounding sewerage system as well.

To avoid such problems, scrape the grease from your cooking items and dishes as much as possible, and dispose of it in the rubbish. Drain animal fats into small containers. Once the container is full, you can dispose of the collection in the rubbish.

Eggshells

As you crack your eggs for your morning scramble, it’s easy to toss them into your sink. But allowing these fragments to go down the drain is a mistake. Eggshells turn into a grainy waste that can mix with other materials to form bigger entities that block drains. The membranous inner layer of the shell can also cause sticky issues that damage your disposal machinery.

Coffee grounds

Though you may be in a rush in the morning, disposing of your coffee grounds properly after making your morning cuppa can save you from costly repairs in the future. Coffee grounds should never be washed down the sink drain. Like eggshells, grounds are prone to clumping, and easily mesh together with other waste material. In fact, coffee grounds are one of the leading causes of blocked sink plumbing. Place your grounds in the rubbish bin, or compost them; there are also lots of ways to repurpose coffee grounds.

Paint

Paint is a big no-no when it comes to taking care of your drain. Paint can certainly contribute to an impacted drain, but more importantly, the contents of paint make flushing it an environmental concern. Paint falls under the category of household hazardous waste, as do automotive fluids, garden chemicals, and more. There are officially approved ways to dispose of these materials here in Brisbane. Get more guidance on the official government site.

Flour

It’s generally a wise practice to avoid putting any solids down your kitchen sink drain, but one in particular to watch out for is flour. When mixed with water or other liquids, flour transforms into a paste-like substance—perfect for clogging up your drains. Be careful to avoid sweeping leftover flour into your sink after baking.

Preventative maintenance is always a smart approach when it comes to your household plumbing. But some problems can’t be helped. If you’re experiencing a blocked drain in your Brisbane home or office, don’t hesitate to get in touch. With fast and friendly service, Brisbane Blocked Drains will be there for you.