When you get wrapped up in all the decluttering of spring cleaning, it’s easy to forget that your drains need to be cleaned regularly. Several homeowners have a glaring blind spot in their home cleaning routine for their drainage system. Not many people think about cleaning their drain until it’s too late and they have to hire a professional drain cleaning service.
While it might be easier to ignore a slow-draining toilet and sink, the clog won’t go away automatically; instead, your drainage system will stop working altogether when left alone. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t have to put up with the intrusion of severe, foul smells and clogged drains if you do a little preventative maintenance. Here are a few tips for cleaning your home’s drainage system to help you avoid all the nastiness that goes along with clogged drains.
What is the Best Way to Clean Your Drainage System
- Cleaning Your Stopper
Most people think that the problem of clogged or smelly drains solely exists in the pipes forgetting that anything that goes down the drain can get caught and stuck to the stopper in the sink. Before breaking out the drain auger, it would be best to take a look at the stopper. For stoppers that can be taken in and out of the drain, like kitchen sink stoppers, cleaning them should be an easy task.
- Deodorizing Your Drains
When there is something stuck in your drain, it is only a matter of time before a foul smell intrudes into your home. When this happens, it’s best to deodorize your drains to get rid of the smell. Although heavy-duty drain cleaners are suitable for unclogging drains, they don’t get rid of the smell.
The best approach would be to use vinegar, and here’s how:
- Pour hot water down the sink – never use boiling water since it can damage your pipes
- Follow up with half a cup of hot vinegar
- Rinse your drain with cold water to solidify and loosen any traces of grease that might be causing blockages
- Pour another half a cup of vinegar down your drain to wash away the blockages
- Using Citrus
When it comes to cleaning your drains, harsh chemical drain cleaners might get the job done, but they end up causing damage to your pipes down the road. Snake or drain augers are effective for undoing serious clogs, but it can cause severe damage to your eyes and skin if it gets on you.
The best and safest approach would be to use citrus fruit. Running your garbage disposal while the citrus rinds in it is an effective way to de-grease and freshen your drain. Alternatively, you can use citric acid since it cuts through food residue and built-up grease naturally, leaving you with a pleasantly clean and fresh drain.
- Using an Enzymatic Cleaner
As previously mentioned, chemical drain cleaners are primarily harmful. On the other hand, enzymatic cleaners use natural bacteria and enzymes to eat away at anything that is causing the clog in your drains. These enzymes convert fats, oils, and other biological compounds into elements like hydrogen and oxygen.
Although enzymatic cleaners are a little more expensive than chemical drain cleaners, they don’t pose any risk to your health or wellbeing. Instead of opting for inexpensive yet potentially harmful cleaning products, it is best to go with something worth the investment – enzymatic cleaners.
Clean Your Drainage System Regularly
Cleaning and taking care of your drainage system is another way to safeguard the investment that is your home. When your home’s drainage system isn’t performing appropriately, it can cause multiple problems.
A little preventive maintenance of your drains can go a long way. To avoid the severe damage of clogged drains, it is best to inspect and clean them regularly. Use the tips outlined above to extend the life of your entire drainage system.
