Cooking fat, oil and grease, wet wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products, nappies, food scraps and coffee grounds should not go down a drain. Toilets are meant for pee, poo and toilet paper only, and kitchen sinks for water and small amounts of everyday washing-up residue.
Most household drain blockages build up from things that seemed harmless when they went down. Changing a few habits can make a real difference.
Fat, Oil and Grease
Hot fat from a roasting tin or frying pan looks like liquid, but it cools and hardens as it travels through the pipes. It sticks to the inside walls and catches other bits of waste, slowly narrowing the drain.
Let fat cool and set, then scrape it into the bin. Wipe greasy pans and plates with kitchen roll before washing them. Running hot water or washing-up liquid down after fat does not stop it setting further along the pipe.
Wipes and Bathroom Items
Wet wipes are one of the biggest causes of blocked drains. Many do not break down the way toilet paper does, even if the packet says they can be flushed. Make-up wipes, baby wipes and cleaning wipes all belong in the bin.
The same goes for cotton buds, cotton wool, dental floss, plasters, sanitary products, nappies and contact lenses. Keeping a small bin in the bathroom makes this much easier for everyone in the house.
If you share a home, a short note by the toilet or sink can help guests and younger family members remember. Many blockages start with someone who simply did not know a wipe or cotton bud could cause trouble.
Kitchen Scraps and Other Waste
Food scraps, rice, pasta, coffee grounds and tea leaves can settle in pipes and bind together with fat. Use a sink strainer to catch bits while washing up, and empty it into the food waste or general bin.
Paint, building materials, plaster and grout should never go down a drain. These can set hard inside the pipe. Check with your local council about how to get rid of them safely.
Hair is another common culprit in showers and baths. A simple plughole cover helps catch it before it causes problems.
If a Drain Is Already Struggling
If water is draining slowly, stop putting anything else down it and cut back on water use for a while. Avoid strong chemical drain cleaners, and never mix different cleaning products, as this can give off harmful fumes.
Outside drains and gullies can also catch leaves and garden debris. Keep grates clear where you can do so safely by hand, without lifting heavy covers.
Good habits lower the chance of a blockage, but they cannot remove one that has already formed. If your drains are slow, smell or keep backing up, our Oxford blocked drain team can clear the build-up and suggest practical ways to keep it from returning.