Property managers have an inside view into some of the crazy things that people do in their homes. And the things that people stick down the sink ranks as one of the biggest problems that can make life really unpleasant while also easily being avoided.
No one ever does it to create a problem. Normally, you’re just trying to make something ‘go away’. But you may question the time you saved walking to the rubbish bin when the water is backed up and you need to take time off work for the plumber.
Here is a list of the worst transgressors to help you avoid any trouble.
- Grease – Grease poured from the frying pan and down the sink will accumulate in your pipes like the infamous “fatbergs” found in the UK and US. Lard, butter and mayonnaise add to the problem. The solution is to wipe the surface clean with a paper towel and throw it away. Vegetable oils are fine to put into compost.
- Coffee – Allegedly, ground coffee is the most common cause of blocked pipes. (I’m not sure who keeps a check on these things). But coffee grind can settle in the U-bend of pipes and be hard to shift. The grinds are great in compost, good for grass and will ward off snails from your favourite plants. So, please don’t throw them down the sink.
- Medicine – This might sound obvious. But please don’t put chemicals into the water system. You can dispose of tablets and liquids at your local pharmacy.
- Cleaning fluids – Like medicine, pouring this away is harmful. Always dispose of these in the garbage or take to a local council depot that accepts chemicals.
- Flour – This expands with water and can set hard if it has not flushed away sufficiently. After all, water plus flour is the recipe for glue. When you have excess flour, please clean it up with a paper towel and put it into the garbage.
- Pasta and rice – Like flour, dry pasta and rice expand in water and will quickly cause you problems. Always stick these items in the bin.
- Paper towels – Sometimes, you have an animal or small-child emergency, and you just want to throw the paper towels into the toilet. Don’t! Just like cotton balls and feminine hygiene products, put them in their own garbage bag and stick them in the bin.
- Labels – How annoying are those waxy stickers on fruit, especially apples, pears and lemons? The little suckers do not break down in water and can get stuck in your pipes. They’ve even been known to clog filters in treatment plants. Stick them in the garbage, please!
- Eggshells – These do not go down the drain smoothly when crushed. They catch on each other and quickly build a barrier that soon becomes watertight. The shells are actually excellent for compost.
- Paint – This is the most obvious sin of them all. Councils have depots for hazardous waste – and yes, paint is classified as hazardous as modern blends are very full of plastic – so there’s no excuse for pouring paint down a sink, even the laundry sink.