Why Clean Drains Are Important

Clogged and dirty drains can cause a number of problems in your home that can negatively impact your health, safety, and comfort. Keeping your drains clean and flowing freely is important to prevent clogs, bad smells, bugs/pests, leaks, and more.

Clogged drains are a breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and bugs. As organic matter builds up, it provides food for fruit flies, drain flies, cockroaches, mice, and other unwelcome pests. These pests spread germs and diseases, which is troubling from a health perspective.

Bacteria and mold from dirty drains can also produce foul odors. The stagnant water and trapped debris emits unpleasant smells of rotting eggs, sewage, or decay. These nasty odors can permeate your bathrooms, kitchen, and beyond.  

Overflowing dirty water from clogged drains can cause leaks and water damage too. Backups allow dirty water to overflow from drains, potentially ruining walls, floors, cabinets, and your possessions. Water damage promotes mold growth and structural issues if left unchecked.

By keeping your drains free of blockages, you can avoid these problems and their associated hassles and health hazards. Regular drain cleaning, use of drain strainers, and avoidance of drain-clogging items can help keep your home's drains clear and functioning properly. Clean drains equals a safer, healthier, more comfortable living environment.

Signs You Need to Clean Your Drains

Drains can gradually accumulate gunk, grime, hair, and other debris over time. This buildup will eventually impede water flow and cause problems. Watch out for these signs that indicate it's time to clean your drains:

• Slow drainage - If water is draining slower than usual or starts pooling up rather than flowing down, there is likely a clog forming. Slow drainage indicates a partial blockage that is restricting water flow. The sooner you can clear it, the better.
• Gurgling noises - Strange gurgling sounds when water goes down a drain are a telltale sign of trouble. It means air is getting sucked into the pipe along with water. This usually happens when a clog is narrowing the drain opening. Listen for bubbly or odd noises.
• Bad smells - Foul odors wafting up from drains, or the area around sinks and tubs, is never a good sign. It means organic waste, like hair, grease, or food particles, is accumulating in the pipes. Smells get worse over time as debris rots. A stinky drain needs cleaning.
• Visible grime buildup - Sometimes you can actually see gunk in and around drains. Sinks may develop slimy scum rings. Shower floors can collect hair and soap scum. Toilet bowls can get streaked. If you notice visible grime, grease, or other residue accumulating, it also means it's time for a thorough drain cleaning.

Don't ignore these warning signs that drains need cleaning. Clogged drains only get worse over time. Regular maintenance and cleaning helps keep water flowing freely.

Types of Drain Clogs

Drain clogs can occur for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common culprits:

Hair 

Hair is one of the top causes of clogged drains. As hair sheds in the shower or sink, it can get swept down the drain. Over time, this builds up into a mass that blocks water flow. Hair clogs are most common in bathroom shower and sink drains.

Grease/Fat 

Grease and fat from cooking can stick to pipes as it goes down the kitchen drain. This greasy residue accumulates over time and causes blockages. Pouring hot grease directly down the drain makes the problem worse.

Soap Scum

Soap scum is a filmy residue left behind from bathing products. This slimy film sticks to pipes and combines with hair and grime to create clogs. Soap scum is a common contributor to clogged shower and sink drains.

Food Particles 

Leftover scraps of food can get stuck in drain pipes. Things like coffee grounds, eggshells, rice, and produce peels can accumulate and cause slow drains. Kitchen sink drains are prone to food particle clogs.

Tree Roots

Invasive tree roots can make their way into sewer and septic drainage pipes underground. As the roots grow, they obstruct water flow and cause major backups. Tree roots are a common cause of clogs and damage in underground drains.

Clean Your Sink Drains

Your kitchen and bathroom sink drains face heavy usage and are very prone to clogs from grease, soap scum, hair, and food particles. Here are some methods to effectively clean your sink drains and keep water flowing freely:

Remove drain stoppers - Unscrew and remove the drain stoppers so you can access the drain pipe. Remove any hair or gunk that has collected in the stopper itself. 

Baking soda and vinegar - This classic DIY drain cleaner works by creating a chemical reaction that breaks down gunk. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup vinegar. Cover the drain for 5-10 minutes while it fizzes. Then pour a pot of boiling water down to rinse away debris. The combination of baking soda, vinegar, and hot water will break up grease, soap scum, and mild clogs.

Boiling water - For light drain cleaning, simply pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain can help dissolve and flush away gunk. Allow the hot water to sit for a few minutes before running the faucet.

Drain snakes - For tougher clogs, use a drain snake or auger to physically remove blockages. Feed the drain snake down the pipes and twist to grab hair, grease, and debris. Slowly pull out the drain snake - the hook on the end will extract the clog. Start with a plastic drain snake for bathroom sinks before graduating to a metal one for tough kitchen clogs.

Regularly removing drain stoppers and using these DIY methods will keep your sink drains clear and prevent more serious clogs from forming. Catching clogs early is easier than dealing with completely blocked drains.

Clean Shower and Tub Drains  

Shower and tub drains can easily get clogged with hair, soap scum, and other gunk. Start by removing any hair you can see in or around the drain. Use a drain catcher or zip-it tool to pull out strands of hair. You can find inexpensive drain catchers and zip-it tools at any hardware store. 

For a simple DIY drain cleaner, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Cover the drain opening with a wet rag to contain the fizzy reaction. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then rinse with hot water. The baking soda and vinegar will react to help break up soap scum, oils, and buildup.

For tougher clogs, boil a pot of water and slowly pour it down the drain. This can help dissolve and flush away soap scum and built-up gunk. You can also try a bent wire hanger or drain snake to loosen clogs. 

Prevention is key to avoid future clogged shower and tub drains. Always capture hair with a drain catcher and avoid letting soap scum build up. Pouring a kettle of boiling water down the drain weekly can help keep things clear too. With some simple DIY drain cleaning and prevention, you can keep your shower and tub free of clogs.

Clean Toilet Drains

Keeping your toilet drain free of clogs is important for proper sanitation and a well-functioning toilet. Here are some of the most effective methods for cleaning a clogged toilet drain:

Use a Plunger

A simple plunger can often unclog a toilet drain by creating suction to dislodge the clog. Place the plunger over the drain hole forming a tight seal. Quickly plunge up and down several times to loosen the clog and flush it down. Repeat as needed until water flows freely. Make sure to clean and disinfect the plunger when finished.