Your kitchen and bathroom drains see a lot of love on a daily basis, from brushing your teeth to washing the dishes to taking a shower and more. With so much going on, it’s no wonder our drains get clogged from time to time.
The kitchen drain is especially susceptible to blockages, as we often flush food waste and a combination of fats, oil, and grease (FOG) down the sink for easy disposal. Being mindful of what we wash down our drains is one way to prevent frequent clogging—and something your whole family should be educated and on board with. Another way is to clean your drains on a regular basis.
So, how often should you clean drains? What are the best practices for cleaning drains correctly? We will answer all of those questions below.
DIY Drain Cleaning Routine
How often you should clean your drains depends on how often they are clogging. For example, if you find yourself reaching for the plunger every week, it’s best to call a plumber right away for a professional drain cleaning.
Otherwise, try to build a routine of cleaning your drains on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. This is a preventative step that will help you avoid clogged drains in the future. Let’s explore this a bit further.
Clean Drains and Garbage Disposal Weekly
Think about how much use your drains get every week and what sort of debris can end up in there. In the kitchen, food particles and fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are your biggest enemy. In the bathroom, hair and soap scum will be your main culprits.
Once a week, spend an extra 10 to 15 minutes flushing your kitchen and bathroom sink with soapy hot water. Follow this with a 1:1 mixture of baking soda and vinegar solution. Cover the drain and wait a few minutes. Then, flush once again with boiling water.
This DIY drain cleaning hack is safe and quick—and the best part is that you don’t have to use chemical drain cleaner on a regular basis (or ever again).
Prevent Clogs With Monthly Drain Cleaning
When it comes time for your monthly cleaning, consider investing in an enzyme drain cleaner. These products don’t contain any harsh chemicals, like lye or sodium hydroxide, that can damage your drain or sewer lines. Instead, they use organic materials that digest waste and reproduce, essentially spreading good bacteria through your plumbing system to keep it clean.
Enzyme-based cleaners are a safe drain cleaning alternative to chemical drain cleaners. It won’t unclog a drain that is severely blocked, but using this drain cleaner on a regular basis will keep your plumbing system healthy and flowing smoothly.
Schedule Professional Drain Cleaning Annually
Now you know how often you should clean drains by yourself, but what about having them cleaned professionally?
Once a year, it’s a good idea to schedule a drain cleaning service; this is especially important if you neglect or do very little to care for your drains during the other 11 months.
An annual drain cleaning is important for keeping your plumbing system in good shape. Professional plumbers have access and experience using next-gen drain cleaning technology that will eliminate even the most stubborn clogs. You’ll be amazed at how well your sink drains function after just one service.
Choose AP Plumbing for Your Drain Cleaning Service
Ready to change the way you care about your plumbing system? From using gentle drain cleaning methods on a regular basis to scheduling professional services, there’s no better time than right now to get started!
AP Plumbing is Syracuse’s most trusted plumbing company. We offer drain maintenance and cleaning, including hydro-jetting services, as well as 24/7 emergency plumbing repairs should you find yourself dealing with an unexpected plumbing disaster.
