Don’t Forget Your Drain During Spring Cleaning

The holidays are over, and the new year is finally here! As you put away decorations and prepare for spring cleaning, have you also thought about drain cleaning?

Likely, that’s the last thing on your mind. But it shouldn’t be something you forget to do! That’s because prevention is key to keeping your drains free of clogs and functioning properly year-round.

Why Should Spring Cleaning Involve Drains?

Your drains and pipes are the unsung heroes of your household. They are where you dispose of unwanted food materials and waste, which makes them a pretty crucial part of your house’s ecosystem. Keeping your drains working smoothly and your pipes clear of clogs will make your life a whole lot easier, which is why your spring cleaning plans should include cleaning drains in your kitchen and bathrooms.

Kitchen Drains

Your kitchen sink is something you use every day for washing your hands, rinsing vegetables, cleaning the dishes, and disposing of food waste as you cook delicious home-cooked meals. This is why your kitchen drain needs extra attention during spring cleaning (as well as year-round).

When it comes to drain cleaning, there are two ways to go: hire a professional or do it yourself.

If you’re in the DIY camp, there is a simple way to unclog your drains with ingredients you likely already have tucked away in the back of your pantry or kitchen cupboard. So grab some baking soda, white vinegar, and boiling water, and let’s get to cleaning!

This DIY method requires only two simple steps:

1. Pour one part baking soda down your drain and then slowly add two parts white vinegar, allowing it to foam up for about 15 minutes.
2. Grab about ½ a gallon of boiling water and dump it down your drain to remove any residue or clogs.

This remedy is great for prevention but can also be used to tackle stubborn, slow drains. If this method doesn’t produce the results you need, you can repeat the process.

If you’re still experiencing a clog, it’s time to call a professional. They will address that, as well as other potential plumbing problems you may have that are affecting your drains.

Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal takes care of a lot of your waste, which means it deserves some attention when it comes time for spring cleaning. Food particles can get stuck in the pipes, causing a funky smell down there if it’s not addressed quickly. However, there’s a remedy for this!

Cleaning out your garbage disposal calls for three easily-accessible ingredients – lemon wedges, course-ground salt or sea salt, and ice cubes (cubed, not crushed). Here is how to do it:

1. First, stuff a few lemon wedges, pinches of salt, and a handful or two of ice cubes down the drain.
2. Run cold water down the drain and turn on your garbage disposal under the ice is gone.

It’s that easy! The ice removes stubborn gunk from the pipes, the salt scrubs your blades, and the lemons leave you with a fresh-smelling scent you’ll appreciate much more than the spoiled food aroma that’s been coming from your sink since it was last cleaned.

Bathroom Sink and Shower Drain

Bathroom sinks are notorious for draining slowly. That’s because hair – the number one culprit of clogs – can easily get into the drain and cause a build-up that backs up your pipes. There is an easy drain-cleaning fix for this, though.

If you’re experiencing a clog, grab a drain snake, toilet plunger, or commercial drain cleaner to break up the build-up. If your drain is slow-running or smelly, we recommend a simple DIY recipe to clean it using baking soda, white vinegar, and water.

Here’s how you can use those three ingredients to clean out your drain:

1. Pour roughly ½ a gallon of boiling water down, this will loosen debris.
2. Add 1 cup of baking soda to your sink or shower drain.
3. Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar over the baking soda.
4. Allow the mixture to fizz for up to 15 minutes.
5. Pour more boiling water into the drain.

 

Toilets

Your toilet is an often forgotten drain, which means it likely doesn’t get the same care and attention other drains around your house do. The problem is toilet clogs are extremely common, and prevention is key to keeping everything working smoothly.

Just like with your bathroom or shower drain, your toilet drain can be cleaned with the help of a small amount of baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Here’s how you can do it yourself:

1. Pour one part baking soda and one part vinegar into your toilet.
2. Allow the mixture to fizz up for about 10 minutes.
3. Flush the toilet to clear out any clogs in your pipes.

Other Spring Cleaning Tips

That baking soda, lemon, and salt combo you can use to clean out your kitchen sink and garbage disposal? You can also use it to clean your sinks as well! Whether you have stainless steel, porcelain, or white sink, you can get stubborn stains and rust off with common household ingredients and a little elbow grease.

While DIY drain cleaning is great in a pinch, if stubborn clogs are leaving you to shower in standing water or deal with a smelly sink, it might be time to hire a professional. Adeedo offers plumbing services that clear your pipes so you can have peace of mind.