We all know how inconvenient it is to have a clogged sink in your kitchen. Last Easter we had several emergency calls for clogged drains in homes that had guests arriving any minute, so we wanted to share a few things you can do to prevent clogged up kitchen sink drains.

Here are our top 5 tips to keep your kitchen drains clean and clear this Easter and all year round:

1. Take your garburator for a swim

It is very common for garburators to collect enough debris to clog up your pipes, especially if you’re filling it with greasy foods, solid food waste, or household garbage. Whether you’ve thrown undesirable materials into your garburator or you just want to maintain its efficiency, we suggest to take it for a cold swim!

Fill up your sink with water (leave a few inches of space from the top) and let your garburator run. The movement of blades creates pressure that gently pushes down debris that settle into your pipes. This simple step will help you keep your kitchen drain clear and also prevent any unpleasant odours.

2. Save your grease

Greasy and fatty food or food waste are not meant to be thrown down your kitchen sink. Because these substances eventually solidify in your drain, they quickly get stuck and begin collecting debris. This collection of debris grows quickly and becomes difficult to clear even when you run hot soapy water down the sink.

Avoid pouring the following items down your kitchen sink:

• Butter or Margarine (cool or warm)
• All cooking oils
• Shortening & Lard
• Animal fat drippings

For convenience, you can wipe your pans and soak up the oil with a paper towel and toss it out. If possible, we suggest that you pour your excess fats/grease into a small container and take it to a disposal site. The fat will be repurposed and kept out of the drains in your cities entire plumbing system.

Please see a few options for disposal:

• Burnaby Eco-Centre 4855 Still Creek Ave , Burnaby
• Richmond Recycling Depot 5555 Lynas Lane , Richmond 604-276-4010
• Ridge Meadows Recycling Society 10092 236th St , Maple Ridge 604-463-5545
• North Shore Transfer Station & Recycling Drop-off 30 Riverside Drive, North Vancouver 604-681-5600
• Coquitlam Transfer Station & Recycling Drop-off 1200 United Blvd, Coquitlam 604-681-5600

3. Compost your coffee grounds

For a lot of us, coffee is a very important part of the day! Make the experience more rewarding by saving your coffee grounds from drain doom. Coffee grounds accumulate in your pipes and become hard, making them difficult to push down. Rather than throwing them down the sink, add them to your compost bin. Coffee grounds are an excellent source of nitrogen for your compost and serve as fertilizer for your soil.

4. Use a strainer

One of the best ways to prevent unwanted materials and debris from tumbling down your sink is to use a strainer. They can have very fine or large holes, which determines down much junk they will collect. Strainers are easily placed or removed in your sink, making it a convenient option for preventing blockages.

You can pick these up at your local hardware store, dollar store, or kitchen store for $10 or less.

5. Avoid starch

Starchy foods are also troublesome if you pour them down the drain too often. Foods like rice, pastas, bread, peas, and corn become mush in the pipes and collect debris. Again, it’s better to put it to the side and throw it in your trash rather than let it collect in your pipes.

Bonus Tip!

There is one safe and effective product that you can use to help keep your pipes clean. Use CLR Septic System Treatment & Drain Care to break down soaps, grease, fats, and oils in your plumbing system.

Use 2 oz down each drain, once per month. This is also helpful in bathrooms and laundry sinks.

We are always here to help you keep your drains running freely and prevent any nasty odours that build up. If your kitchen sink is clogged, give us a call and we’ll take care of you!