We all make mistakes, but we don’t want to make mistakes that can lead to an expensive plumbing fee. While it’s sometimes easy to flush something down the toilet or wash it down the drain, these objects can come back with a vengeance. 

So, to help you avoid an expensive plumbing mistake in the future, we’ve developed a quick guide of the sort of stuff that shouldn’t be burdening your pipes. 

Don’t put these down your kitchen sink

Just because something can be poured down a kitchen drain, doesn’t mean it should be poured down a kitchen drain. While some substances may be able to pass through your kitchen drain, they can solidify and build up over time. This can cause blocked drains and damage your kitchen pipes. 

Taking care with what you pour down the kitchen drain can help keep your kitchen pipes healthy. 

There are some simple things you can do in the kitchen to keep your pipes healthy:

Never flush these items 

The toilet is your natural go-to for bathroom junk. However, while some objects were built to be flushed, others can be a ticking time bomb for your piping. It can be hard to work out what can be flushed down the toilet. 

The following is a list of items that plumbers sometimes find clogging up a drainpipe: 

Flushable wet wipes are another point of contention. While these wipes are advertised as flushable, their effect on water infrastructure across the globe is noticeable. Toilet paper is designed to break down in water, whereas flushable cloth wipes are not. Plumbers around the world have noticed that so-called flushable wipes are damaging pipes and causing blockages. 

Choose your laundry detergent carefully 

Don’t just blindly use any old laundry detergent. Try to use a phosphate-free laundry detergent that’s environmentally friendly. 

Not only will this have a better effect on the environment, but it will also help maintain your pipes for longer. 

Don’t dispose of hazardous chemicals through the drain

It isn’t often we repaint our house. So, after a paint job, you might find yourself wondering if you can put paint down the drain. 

Be careful to avoid pouring or flushing hazardous chemicals down your drains. Substances such as oils, lubricants, pesticides, and paint have terrible effects on the environment and on your pipes. To dispose of hazardous chemicals, make sure you follow the instructions of your local council and their policies regarding waste disposal. 

Long story short, just because something can go down your drain, it doesn’t mean something should go down your drain. Double-check with the label and consider if the object or substance will break down in water or remain in your pipes for years to come. 

Accidentally flush something down the drain you shouldn’t have? Learn more about our blocked drain services .