Most clogged drains don’t happen overnight. They build up over weeks and months as the wrong things get rinsed, flushed, or ground up. Knowing what to keep out of your pipes is the easiest way to avoid a backup.
Never Put These Down the Kitchen Drain or Garbage Disposal
- Grease, fats, and cooking oil. They go down as liquid, then cool and harden inside the pipe, catching everything that follows. Pour grease into a can, let it solidify, and throw it in the trash.
- Coffee grounds. They don’t dissolve and settle into dense sludge in the trap.
- Eggshells. The membrane wraps around the disposal and the shell fragments add to sediment.
- Fibrous and stringy foods. Celery, corn husks, onion skins, artichokes, and potato peels can tangle around disposal blades.
- Pasta, rice, and bread. These expand with water and turn into a paste that blocks pipes.
- Bones and fruit pits. Too hard for most disposals and can jam or damage the unit.
- Paint, solvents, and chemicals. Harmful to pipes and to the water system; take them to a household hazardous waste drop-off.
Never Flush These Down the Toilet
- “Flushable” wipes, baby wipes, and cleaning wipes
- Paper towels and facial tissues
- Cotton swabs, cotton balls, and dental floss
- Feminine hygiene products
- Medications (use a pharmacy or law enforcement take-back program instead)
- Cat litter, even if labeled flushable
The toilet is only designed for human waste and toilet paper. Everything else can snag in the drain or further down in the sewer line.
Bathroom Sinks and Showers
Hair combined with soap scum is the number one cause of slow bathroom drains. An inexpensive drain catcher in each shower and tub makes a big difference.
Simple Habits That Prevent Clogs
- Run cold water before, during, and for about 15 seconds after using the garbage disposal.
- Feed food waste into the disposal a little at a time rather than all at once.
- Use drain strainers in the kitchen sink, tubs, and showers.
- Scrape plates into the trash before rinsing.
- Skip harsh chemical drain cleaners, which can damage pipes and disposals.
Signs a Clog Is Forming
Slow drains, gurgling sounds, bad odors, or water backing up into a tub or shower are early warning signs. If several fixtures back up at once, the problem may be in the main line. For stubborn clogs, professional drain cleaning clears the line safely, and if your disposal hums, leaks, or won’t turn on, we also handle garbage disposal repair and replacement.
Need a Hand? Talk to a Live Person 24/7
Phoenix Plumbing serves Las Vegas homes and businesses. We’re licensed and insured (NV License #0088518) and provide free estimates. Call (702) 617-1500 or request service online.