Cleaning out a clogged drain is one of the most unpleasant of household chores. It’s not surprising that many people turn to harsh chemical drain cleaners in hopes that they’ll do the dirty work for them. You can save yourself the stress of clearing out periodic blockages if you perform some basic maintenance and cleaning on a regular basis.

Practicing the following habits will minimize the likelihood of major clogs:

– Cover bathtub and bathroom sink drains with a mesh or plastic cover that will trap hair and other debris before it can slip into the drain
– Whenever debris begins to collect around the drain protector, remove and dispose of it
– Once a week, pull out the pop-up stoppers in your bathtub and sink drains and extract any debris that has begun to collect there
– Brush your hair before showing to capture and dispose of loose hair so it doesn’t come out in the shower and get washed down the drain
– Use a separate washtub or a hose to wash pets
– In your kitchen, scale back on your garbage disposal use and throw larger food remnants in the trash can rather than down the sink
– Be especially careful about what food scraps go down the drain if you don’t have a garbage disposal
– Running hot water for a few minutes once a week will help to flush away deposits that might start to build up inside your drains
– Conversely, running cold water while using your garbage disposal will help keep grease and oils in a solid state, making them easier for the disposal to break down and less likely to coat the inside of your drain
– Teach your children what should and shouldn’t go down the drain
– Keep a quality plunger on hand for when accidents happen

Basically, don’t treat your drains like invincible garbage disposals. (Don’t even treat your garbage disposal like an invincible garbage disposal.) The less you allow to go down your drains, the better.

If the plumbing system in your home is prone to clogging, it may be a good idea to make an annual professional cleaning part of your drain maintenance routine. A Bonfe plumbing technician can snake your drain lines to clear out significant buildups that could result in a major system clog.