Clogged drains are a common problem in many households. From slow-draining water to unpleasant smells, the signs can appear before a full blockage takes place. With a bit of regular care and attention, you can avoid major plumbing issues and keep your home running smoothly.
Learn how to keep your drains flowing freely with expert tips on maintenance, drain guards, and natural cleaning methods to prevent blockages and odours.
Why Clear Drains Matter
Clear drains help to maintain a clean and safe home. When water cannot move freely through your pipes, it builds up pressure, causes foul smells and can lead to leaks or flooding. Over time, a mix of hair, grease, food scraps, and other debris gathers inside the pipes and causes stubborn blockages.
These clogs don’t just affect the sink they form in. One blocked drain can cause issues across your whole plumbing system, especially in older properties. Blocked drains also create a breeding ground for bacteria and can make your home less hygienic. That is why it is so important to keep water moving easily through every part of your system.
Keep a Regular Maintenance Routine
To avoid surprise blockages, set up a simple routine for looking after your drains. Start by flushing hot water down the sink at least once a week.
This helps to move along any grease or grime before it hardens. After particularly greasy washing up, a kettle of boiling water can make a big difference.
Once a week, pour a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by boiling water. This natural method works well for loosening light build-up and freshening up the pipes.
Some people also add vinegar to the process, letting it fizz for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. These simple steps help keep the drains clear without damaging your plumbing.
Bathroom drains should also be checked regularly. Pull out visible hair and soap residue from plugholes and clean any removable stoppers. Even small clumps can grow into full blockages if left unchecked.
Watch What You Pour Down the Sink
What you send down your drains has a huge effect on how well they work. Hot oil or grease might look harmless when liquid, but as it cools, it sticks to the inside of pipes and collects anything that follows. Over time, this builds up and causes serious clogs.
Never pour fat or cooking grease into the sink. Let it cool, then scrape it into the bin. The same goes for food waste – use a compost bin or rubbish bin rather than rinsing scraps down the plughole. Even small pieces of pasta, rice or eggshells can cause trouble.
In the bathroom, avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper. Wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products may seem to disappear, but they often catch in the pipes and build up with other materials.
Use Drain Guards
Drain guards are a cheap and effective way to catch debris before it enters the pipes. They sit neatly over your plughole and stop things like food, hair and soap scum from slipping down the drain. This is especially useful in showers and kitchen sinks.
Choose a guard that fits well and clean it regularly. In the kitchen, remove and empty it into the bin after each use. In the bathroom, check it for tangled hair and rinse it under hot water. Keeping your guard clean is just as important as having one in place.
By using guards in all your main sinks and plugholes, you reduce the risk of debris travelling through the pipes and causing blockages deeper down.
Flush Drains with Hot Water Regularly
Hot water is one of the easiest and most effective tools for keeping drains clear. It helps move greasy residue along the pipes and prevents it from sticking to the sides. After washing up, especially when you’ve used oils or fats, run hot water to keep things moving.
As part of your weekly routine, pour a kettle of boiling water down each main drain. This helps to clear out any soap or grime and can reduce unwanted smells. In colder months, when grease hardens more quickly, doing this twice a week is even more helpful.
If your plumbing is plastic, let the water cool slightly to avoid softening the pipes. It is also a good idea to do this after using natural cleaning mixtures like baking soda and vinegar. Hot water rinses away the loosened debris and helps keep your pipes free-flowing.
Need professional help keeping your drainage system in top condition? We offer expert drainage maintenance for homes and businesses across Fleetwood, Blackpool, and Lancashire, with 24/7 availability and over 25 years of experience.
