Your kitchen is one of the most visited areas of your home. This is where food preparation takes place, so it is important to keep the area clean and functional all the time. However, no matter how much we try to be careful when working in the kitchen, there are still kitchen issues that we encounter sometimes. Drain issues seem to be one of the more common problems in most kitchens. Their repair is costly and many people don’t know what is and isn’t okay to put into their drains. To prevent drain issues from happening in your kitchen, here are the top do’s and don’ts for your kitchen drains.

Do’s:

• Use cool water to flush food garbage

It is always recommended to run cold water when flushing food waste down your drain. This way, any fats from your food waste will be kept solid. You can also add several drops of liquid dish soap as you flush your food waste to help loosen the fats and oils  and get them down the drain.

• Maintain your dishwasher

Even if your dishwasher is working smoothly, it is important to perform routine maintenance on it. This will not just prevent potential issues on your dishwasher, but it can also help extend its lifespan. Simple maintenance such as cleaning the filter basket can do so much in preventing drain problems and cleaning your plates thoroughly. 

• Clean the stopper

Apart from the drain on your kitchen, the stopper and strainer can also cause clogging. This is caused by soap scum and other small debris that are caught by the strainer. Once you notice that the drain is slowing down, try to remove the strainer and clean the clog. 

• Use a plunger

There are times when you can see a clog in your pipe. When this happens, you can try resolving it using a plunger. Make sure to place the plunger firmly, creating an airtight seal. Gently pump the drain until the clog is cleared.  

Don’ts:

• Don’t pour grease down the drain

When washing dishes, do not dispose of any grease or oil from your pans into the sink. This can be harmful to your kitchen drain and may result in the buildup of grease on the pipe. The problem happens when this oil solidifies and clogs your drain, resulting in backups. 

• Do not dispose too much waste down the drain

One of the bad habits that many people have developed is disposing of food scraps and other non-food items down the drain. Sometimes we even let our food waste pile up before thinking about how to dispose of them. Do not flush too much food waste down your kitchen drain, especially eggshells and coffee grounds, as it can damage and break down your piping system.  

• Don’t overload your dishwasher with dirty plates

Sometimes we like to wash all the dishes at once to save time. While it can really help you save time with household chores, it can also make your dishwasher work overtime, making it inefficient and increasing the possibility of kitchen drain problems. 

• Don’t forget to get help from the experts

Kitchen drain clogging may be solved with over-the-counter kitchen solutions. However, be careful in using unclogging chemicals as it may cause more harm to your kitchen drain. It is best to get help from experts as they have more skill, knowledge, and experience in solving kitchen drain problems.