13 Everyday Items You Should Never Dump Down the Drain
Are you unknowingly sabotaging your kitchen or bathroom pipes? Discover 13 everyday items you should never dump down the drain, why they cause damage, and eco-friendly ways to dispose of them instead.
13 Everyday Items You Should Never Dump Down the Drain
Your kitchen or bathroom drain isn’t a magical portal where waste simply vanishes. What you dump down your drain doesn’t just disappear—it can create serious blockages and even harm the environment. Many everyday items are particularly harmful to your plumbing and water systems. Let’s dive into the 13 worst offenders you should always keep far from your drains.
1. Rice and Pasta
Rice and pasta expand significantly when they absorb water, even after cooking. When dumped down the drain, they can create sticky clogs that are incredibly difficult to dissolve. Instead, scrape leftovers into the bin. Composting rice isn’t ideal either, as it contains bacteria that could harm your compost.
2. Eggshells
Crushing eggshells into tiny bits might seem harmless, but they can clump together in your pipes, forming a hardened mass. A better solution? Use eggshells as a natural fertiliser for plants, a laundry whitener, or even a DIY skincare ingredient.
3. Milk
Milk may not clog your drain, but pouring it down in large amounts is an environmental hazard. Milk depletes oxygen in water sources, which can suffocate aquatic life. Instead, if the milk is spoiled, process it into organic fertiliser or send it to the landfill.
4. Flour
Flour and water create a glue-like substance—perfect for baking, but terrible for pipes. When flour mixes with water in your drain, it forms a sticky residue that attracts other waste and causes blockages. Always toss unused flour into the bin.
5. Coffee Grounds
Plumbers often cite coffee grounds as a top cause of clogged drains. These tiny particles clump together, forming stubborn gunk in your pipes. Instead, add coffee grounds to your garden compost—plants love them!
6. Oil, Grease, and Fats
Grease, oil, and fatty substances are responsible for nearly 50% of sewage overflows in the US. These materials solidify as they cool, sticking to pipe walls and creating blockages. Common culprits include cooking oil, bacon fat, salad dressings, and gravy. Dispose of fats in a separate container and bin them, or store oil for reuse.
7. Medicine
Flushing expired pills might seem harmless, but they can’t be filtered out by water treatment plants, leading to toxic contamination. Instead, return unused medication to your local pharmacy or participate in community medicine take-back programmes.
8. Hair
Hair is one of the most common culprits behind bathroom drain clogs. Strands form a net-like structure in your pipes, trapping other debris. Use a hair stopper in your shower drain and brush your hair before showering to prevent hair clumps from washing down.
9. Stickers from Fruit and Jars
Even small stickers can wreak havoc on your plumbing. They contain adhesive glue and are often made of materials that take ages to decompose. Instead, dispose of stickers in the bin to avoid unnecessary build-up.
10. Building Waste
Whether it’s leftover concrete, plaster, or tile debris, building materials can cause severe blockages. Even fine powders can stick to pipe walls and solidify over time. Always dispose of building waste according to local regulations.
11. Condoms
Condoms are made of latex, a material that doesn’t decompose or dissolve in water. They can stretch and get stuck in pipes, causing costly and stubborn blockages. Dispose of condoms in the bin instead.
12. Cigarette Butts
The synthetic filters in cigarette butts absorb water, expand, and trap harmful chemicals like nicotine. These contaminants can poison water supplies. Always throw cigarette butts into the rubbish.
13. Feminine Products Pads, tampons, and other feminine hygiene products are designed to absorb and expand, making them disastrous for your pipes. Even “flushable” wipes, paper towels, and cotton balls are guilty of causing blockages. Always bin these items instead.
