This Is The Best Way To Prevent Clogs, According To Plumbers

For the most part, I love being a homeowner and prefer it to the experience I’ve had as a renter. But there is at least one big drawback to life as a homeowner—you don’t get to call up the landlord when you’re dealing with a clogged pipe! 😉

I’ve faced many a clogged pipe in my life, which is part of why I’ve written so extensively about how to unclog drains in both sinks and toilets. But it recently occurred to me that I haven’t devoted much time to exploring how to avoid clogs in the first place!

Clogs are entirely preventable, and it’s much easier to prevent a clog than it is to clear one out. So today I’ll be sharing some highly useful tips that will help you keep your drains clear and clog-free! 🙂

The Secret Plumbers’ Trick To Keeping Your Drains Clear

One of the biggest keys to keeping drains clear is to reduce the amount of greasy gunk clinging to the insides of your pipes. Greasy buildup can trap other gunk moving down the drain, and can eventually create a stubborn clog that you’ll have to deal with.

But there’s a simple way to eliminate greasy buildup, and you already have it at your disposal—dish soap! I always recommend using Dawn dish soap because of its effectiveness against grease, but you can use whichever one you happen to have on hand.

I originally stumbled upon this tip on the website of a plumbing business, but I soon learned my son Erik had heard it too! He had been chatting with a plumber who was called out to the dog kennel where he worked, and the plumber said dish soap was his secret weapon for avoiding clogs.

So not only is this method easy and effective, it’s also plumber-approved! 🙂 Here’s how you can do it at home.

How To Use Dish Soap To Keep Your Drains Clear

You’ll need:

• Dish soap
• Drain stopper

Directions:

1. Start by pouring a good amount of dish soap (a few tablespoons or so) into the drain and let it sit for a few minutes.

2. Put the drain stopper into the drain, then fill the basin with cold tap water.

3. Remove the drain stopper to drain the water, which will whisk away the loosened grease and grime!

You can use this method on kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, showers, and even toilets! If you’re dealing with a particularly greasy drain like your kitchen sink, try using hot water instead of cold.

Do you have a tip you use to keep your drains clear?