A blocked kitchen sink can be a real pain. Not only do you have to be careful when using the faucet, but it can also massively disrupt any attempts to make meals. Not to mention the expense and inconvenience of calling a plumber.
While wear and tear is inevitable, you can be proactive so that this doesn’t happen to you by being careful with what you put down the plughole.
So, here is a list of 15 things you should never put down your kitchen sink:
Mashed potato
Mashed potatoes are a staple food across America. When you are busy preparing the Thanksgiving turkey or roasting vegetables, it may be tempting to quickly tip leftover mashed potatoes into the sink.
However, potatoes, particularly the starchier varieties, can be sticky and cling to pipes, causing blockages over time. It’s best to put these leftovers in the garbage.
Bones
No matter how small they are, bones can be a problem for your kitchen plumbing.
It’s easy to forget about bone content, particularly if they are small like fish bones or if you have been making a broth and they have broken down. However, they can cause issues with disposal systems and damage your pipes on the way down.
Rice
It’s easy to forget how much rice expands, but you will soon find out if you put this foodstuff down your kitchen sink.
Rice is already likely to cling to wet surfaces, like your pipes. Further water will cause rice to increase in size and cause blockages that will grow over time.
Harsh Cleaning Chemicals
While putting soap or plant-based cleaning products down the sink is fine, always read the labels first to see what the manufacturer recommends.
Harsh cleaning materials like bleach can degrade pipes over time, causing leaks and clogs. They can also cause issues with your septic system and the water supply.
Fruit Pits
Fruit pits are safe to put down the sink right? Wrong.
Pits from fruits like peaches or cherries can damage your sink’s garbage disposal system, which can be expensive to replace or repair. To play things safe, put any fruit remnants straight in the trash or, even better, the compost.
Paint and Paint Thinner
Decorating can be a stressful experience, and it can be easy to cut corners to finish as soon as possible.
However, don’t be tempted to use your kitchen sink as a dumpster for your painting materials. Paint and paint thinner is highly corrosive. Not only can they damage your pipes, they can also contaminate your water supply.
Cooking Oil
Tipping cooking oil down your kitchen sink is something you might do without even thinking about the consequences. You may have been doing this for years without any issues, but it can become a real problem over time.
Cooking oil solidifies in pipes and accumulates over time, causing blockages and requiring a phone call to the plumber for repair.
Flour and Dough
We all love a baking session, but make sure that you clean up properly afterward, or you could be calling the plumber.
Flour and dough can cause blockages alone, but they become sticky when wet and cling to other debris that comes down the kitchen pipes. Make sure you dispose of them correctly.
Motor Oil
Motor oil is one of the worst things you can pour down the kitchen sink.
It is very bad for the environment, particularly if it enters the water system. In fact, disposing of it this way may be illegal in your state. It can also clog your plumbing system. Instead, check to see if a recycling center in your area will take your oil.
Gelatin
Used in both desserts and savory dishes, gelatin is a versatile ingredient to have in any kitchen.
However, its role as a thickening agent can be detrimental if it ends up in your kitchen pipes. Once gelatin solidifies, it is tough to break down, requiring expensive repairs.
Keep track of any dishes to which you have added gelatin, and put leftovers in the trash.
Pasta
Pasta is delicious, and many Americans eat it several times a week. However, you should be very careful to ensure that no pasta goes down your kitchen sink.
It is yet another food that expands in the drain, sticking to the sides and attaching to other materials you put in the sink.
Sauces With High Oil Content
Many sauces, such as homemade tomato sauces, soy sauce, ketchup, and barbecue sauce, are fine to pour down the sink in small amounts.
However, avoid doing the same thing with heavier, oil-based sauces, like alfredo, bechamel, and aioli. The oil separates from the rest of the ingredients, coating the pipes and causing blockages. If you’re unsure, put your sauce in the trash.
Eggshells
The average American is said to eat around 280 eggs a year, and it is highly likely that you have some in your refrigerator.
While eggshells are relatively fragile, they can become incredibly sharp when broken up and damage your garbage disposal system if you try to put them down the drain.
Cereal
Avoid pouring cereals down your kitchen sink, even if you are trying to get rid of excess milk.
Many cereals, such as oatmeal, expand in the pipes and are liable to cause blockages. Even cereals that don’t expand can cling to existing materials in your plumbing, so don’t risk pouring it down the kitchen sink.
Coffee Grounds
Is there anything better than waking up to the smell of fresh coffee?
While coffee is delicious and offers many benefits, be careful not to pour the remnants of your French press down the kitchen sink. Coffee grounds stay in pipes and accumulate over time, making them one of the worst items you could put down the drain.
