Use These Tips To Prevent a Clogged Kitchen Sink

Keep Your Kitchen Sink Clog-Free During Your 4th of July Cookout!

Of all the ways to celebrate Independence Day, throwing an epic backyard barbecue bash is among the most time-honored and enjoyable. Even if it’s a smaller get-together with just the family or a few close friends, it wouldn’t be complete without a whole lot of great food.

But with the feast comes the inevitable mountain of dishes to conquer at the end of the day. And when it comes time to clean up, the last thing anyone wants is to cap their fun holiday by trying to fix a backed-up kitchen sink - or heaven forbid it happens in the middle of the party! So to help prevent such a mishap, here are a few tips for making sure the kitchen sink is clear, clean, and ready to handle the day’s fun.

Don’t Put Coffee Grounds and Food Waste Down the Drain

The first step in preventing kitchen sink clogs is to watch what goes down the drain. In homes without garbage disposals, clogs tend to happen more often as food chunks and debris make their way into the drain and become stuck. Vegetable and meat trimmings, bits of eggshell, and coffee grounds are a few of the biggest causes of clogs because they get stuck easily.

Instead of rinsing dishes immediately, it’s best to scrape off any leftover food waste into the trash bin. A little bit going down the drain is okay (and virtually unavoidable), but the less food waste washed down the drain, the better.

Always Put Grease in the Trash Bin

Minimizing the volume of food solids that go down the drain is crucial, but the principle is even more important when it comes to grease. Grease, oils, and fats are behind the vast majority of kitchen sink clogs because they’re especially stubborn, accumulate easily, and capture other food particles like nobody’s business.

When grease goes down the drain, it’s typically in liquid form, thanks to the hot water that it’s hitching a ride with. But when it gets down into the drainpipe, it cools and solidifies, gradually building up with each new batch that’s washed down the drain. This can happen with virtually any oil, from bacon grease and meat drippings to butter and vegetable oils, so it’s best to put these in the trash when possible - once they’ve cooled, of course!

Have a Garbage Disposal Installed

Another way to help prevent clogs is to install a garbage disposal under the kitchen sink. Garbage disposals grind food waste into small morsels that are far less likely to become trapped and form obstructions in the drainpipe. Of course, they can’t handle very tough items like corn cobs, bones, squash stems, or fruit pits. And things like grease, coffee grounds, and starches should still be put in the trash can. 

But garbage disposals make short work of most foods, making food prep and cleanup a breeze. They can also help eliminate nasty kitchen sink odors since less food grime will be hanging around. And except for very powerful high-end models, they’re quite affordable for just about any household - a small price to pay for a clog-free kitchen!

About PlumbCrazy

The award-winning PlumbCrazy has been handling Abingdon, Maryland’s plumbing needs for over 30 years. They always provide personalized solutions and budget-friendly options to fit any customer’s needs. They also offer financing and emergency plumbing services.

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