How to Prevent Sink Clogs

Clogged drains can present a serious problem, especially in a busy kitchen. Leave the drain clogged for long enough and even the most powerful drain cleaner may not do the job--you’ll end up calling a plumber. The time and minimal cost involved in preventing sink clogs from forming in the first place will pay dividends in maintenance calls not made and late-night flooded floors or counter tops never encountered. If you follow a few common-sense steps to avoid sink clogs in your kitchen, you'll be able to avoid unwanted visits from the plumber.

Things You'll Need

• Sink strainer
• Sealable, discardable container
• Sink stopper or rag

Instructions

1. Keep a drain strainer in your sink at all times to prevent large scraps from going down the kitchen drain. Remove the drain strainer and shake any accumulated debris into the trash periodically. Do this as soon as you notice debris build-up--before the build-up is sufficient to block the strainer.

2. Collect used cooking grease or oil in a sealable container--such as a washed-out butter or yogurt tub. When it's full, seal the container and discard it instead of pouring grease down the drain.

3. Scrape your dishes thoroughly in the trash, or into a garbage disposal, before rinsing or washing them in the sink.

4. Stop the sink--either with a stopper or with a damp rag squeezed into the drain hole--and fill it with water, to the level of the emergency drain, once a week. Unplug the drain and let the water flow down into the drain pipe; this will help flush any partial clogs away before they become a serious problem.

Tips & Warnings

• As with kitchen sinks, you can help prevent clogs in bathroom and utility room sinks by keeping as much debris from going down the drain as possible, either by using a strainer as directed in Step 1 or by exercising diligent care. Flushing them regularly with water--as directed in Step 4--also helps.

References

• Drano Blog: Preventing Clogs
• Ask the Builder: Preventing Clogs