Why Drain Cleaning Should Be on Your Spring and Summer Checklist

When tackling your spring and summer cleaning tasks, don’t forget to add drain cleaning to the list. We often don’t think about our drains until there’s a problem, but regular cleaning and maintenance can help prevent clogs and plumbing issues down the road.

Let’s explore how to maintain and clean your kitchen and bathroom drains to keep everything running smoothly.

Key Takeaways

• Regular drain cleaning helps prevent clogs and plumbing problems.
• Kitchen drains can get clogged by food, oil, and grease, while bathroom drains often get clogged by hair and soap.
• Simple DIY methods like using a plunger or organic drain cleaners can help keep your drains clear.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each type of drain and how to keep it clean.

Kitchen Drains: Keep the Food Out

Your kitchen drain works hard year-round, especially if you have a garbage disposal. However, it’s important to remember that not everything should go down the disposal. Food remains, vegetable peels, cooking oil, and grease can cause serious clogs if they build up over time.

To keep your kitchen drain clear, be mindful of what you’re disposing of and consider scraping food debris into the trash or compost before rinsing dishes.

Bathroom Drains: Watch for Hair and Soap Buildup

In the bathroom, the two main culprits of clogged drains are hair and soap scum. Installing screen baskets over your bath and shower drains can help catch hair and prevent it from going down the drain. This is especially important if you have hard water, which requires more soap and can lead to more soap scum buildup.

Regularly cleaning your bathroom drains will help you avoid future clogs and keep everything flowing smoothly.

How to Clear Drains: Plungers, Natural Solutions, and More

Start with a Plunger

If your drain is clogged, your first tool should be a plunger. A standard cup plunger (with a red bell) works best for sinks and tubs. Just make sure you have a flat surface to form a proper seal.

Be Careful with Liquid Drain Cleaners

If a plunger doesn’t work, proceed with caution when using liquid drain cleaners. While chemical cleaners like lye can dissolve soap scum and hair quickly, they can also damage older plumbing systems, even in small amounts.

Instead, consider using a natural, organic method to clean your drains regularly as a preventative measure. Here’s a simple recipe you can try:

1. Pour half a cup of salt and half a cup of baking soda into the drain.
2. Follow with half a cup of vinegar and let it foam for about 60 seconds.
3. Rinse with half a gallon of boiling water to clear the drain.

Garbage Disposal Maintenance: Try Ice and Vinegar

If your garbage disposal isn’t working as efficiently, ice might help! A great maintenance tip is to freeze a tray of half vinegar and half water ice cubes. When run through the disposal, the vinegar helps clean bacteria and grease, while the ice scrapes away buildup.

Final Thoughts: Keep Your Drains Clean Year-Round

Whether in the kitchen or bathroom, regular drain cleaning is an essential part of home maintenance. By being mindful of what goes down your drains and using simple DIY cleaning methods, you can avoid clogs and keep your plumbing in good shape.

Of course, if you run into persistent issues or need professional help, don’t hesitate to reach out to Parker & Sons for expert plumbing services.