Cleaning drains isn’t the most glamorous homeowner maintenance task, but it’s important for health, safety, and comfort. The purpose of drains is to flush wastewater out of the home, making the area a prime location for mold and bacteria buildup.
In the kitchen, food particles, foodborne illness-causing germs, and other yucky stuff regularly get flushed down the pipes. In bathrooms, you brush your teeth, wash your hands, and bathe your body, letting the residual water wash away. Without regular cleaning, these areas can get pretty grimy. Buildup from oils, mold growth, and germs that love moist environments and can cause smells, look unsightly, and cause a real health threat over time. Ready to start cleaning your drains? Consider these tips to help you get started.
How Often Should I Clean My Drains?
By adding drain cleaning to your regular cleaning schedule, you can make sure your drains stay fresh and clear of debris over time. Flushing drains once a week with boiling water should be sufficient to keep most mold and germ growth under control.
Drain Cleaning Tips
Basic maintenance cleaning – Fill a sink or tub up with hot tap water or a pot of boiling water, and then open the drain line so the water can fully work through the line instead of trickling down the path of least resistance. You can also use baking soda and vinegar for added freshness.
Clearing mold – If you see mold in your shower or bathroom pipe, use a drain brush and baking soda to scrub out the visible area. Flush thoroughly with vinegar and then with hot water once more.
Clearing hair – Hair buildup in drains can be a pain and may require the assistance of a professional plumber for significant buildup. To prevent hair from clogging your drains, consider purchasing a drain strainer from your local home improvement or big box store.
Blockages – Call a plumber if hot water doesn’t seem to do the trick for clearing out minor blockages or getting rid of mold and bad odors. You could have a problem deeper in the line that needs to be examined. Avoid using chemical-filled products because they can sit above the blockage and corrode your pipes, worsening the problem. Eco Plumbers offers and all-natural solution to drain cleaning with our Mother Nature Septic Products.
Food disposals – Disposals are notorious for bad odors. When you start to smell something funky, pour baking soda into the drain followed by some vinegar. Let the solution sit for a while before running very hot water down the drain. You can also use lemon peels in the disposal to keep it smelling fresh. To prevent smells, remember to run hot water through your disposal for 30-40 seconds after you have finished disposing of food waste.
Regular cleaning successfully prevents the most common drain blockage and odor problems. Additionally, many professionals recommended cleaning solutions, like baking soda and vinegar, for a 100% natural and environmentally-friendly solution. If you notice a lingering smell or a blockage that home remedies can’t fix, the professionals at The Eco Plumbers can help you diagnose and fix drain issues and pipe blockages.
