As a busy, frugal mom and homeowner, I know there are a lot of things to think about when it comes to your home. Not just cleaning and organizing, but maintenance of everything from your furnace (especially here in Minnesota!) to the faucets and drains around your home.
Having an active family with kids, our bathroom, kitchen and laundry room are kept busy every day of the year. We’ve been fortunate not to have many plumbing issues, but I know that’s largely due to our taking many steps to prevent them, and promptly dealing with them when we do get them!
Preventing Clogs
Clogs are caused by many things, depending on the drain and what it’s used for. Here I’ll look at how to prevent drains in common drains in the home.
Kitchen
Kitchen drain clogs are often caused by food and grease. Food and grease that gets washed off of plates and cookware can get trapped in the pipes and form a clog over time.
One way to prevent clogs in your kitchen sink is to install a garbage disposal. We’ve had one since we moved into our house years ago, and it’s done a great job of keeping our pipes clear. We typically don’t allow much to go down the disposal though – any food particles and grease are thrown or wiped away (with a paper towel) before they are washed. Occasionally as we’re washing dishes our kitchen disposal clogs up and needs to be turned on – but once it’s on, the clog is cleared away within seconds.
We also use a sink strainer (or drain protector) to trap particles so we can throw them away instead of letting them go down the drain.
Bathroom
Bathroom sink and tub drain clogs are commonly caused by hair. My daughter and I have always had long hair and we have shed plenty of it! Using a sink guard can help prevent hair from getting down the drain.
In addition, running hot water down all your sinks and tubs once a month can help keep things clear and show if there’s any issue with your drain.
And of course, avoid flushing objects and large amounts of toilet paper down the toilet. Toilet clogs happen easily, so be sure to have a plunger nearby for those quick emergencies.
Getting Rid of Clogs
Even with your best efforts, sometimes a clog happens. No one has time for that of course, so be prepared with some tools to get rid of it quick!
When a clog strikes, make sure it’s not an object that needs to be pulled out. If it’s a lot of hair, you can use one of those long drain cleaning snake tools that have sharp edges designed to pull out hair clogs and such. These are available at stores like Walmart and Target for only $2 – $5.
Otherwise, one of the first things you can do is try to flush it out with hot water, or mix hot water with some baking soda and vinegar to help move things along.
If things are still moving slow, I recommend Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover or Roto-Rooter Hair Clog Remover.
With 25% more active ingredients and the perfect thickness, Roto–Rooter is the best choice for all types of clogs. It has 2x more enzymes than the leading national brand, and it’s safe for all types of pipes and septic systems. It’s worked for keeping our drains clear, and it’s way more affordable than hiring a plumber!
It’s easy to use, too:
Want to save even more money? Here’s a printable coupon for $1.00 off any Roto-Rooter product.
Of course, if all else fails, then it’s time to consider hiring a plumber. If you don’t have one you know and trust, ask friends and neighbors for any they recommend in your area! And be sure to check or ask your plumber if they have any specials or promotions.
What are your tips for preventing or dealing with clogs? Please share in the comments!
(Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Roto-Rooter. All opinions are 100% mine.)