Guide: drain habits
Drain Habits: What Should Never Go Down
Most clogs start with something that should have gone in the green bin or garbage. Here is a practical list for kitchens, bathrooms and laundry.
- Coffee grounds. They clump and settle in traps.
- Rice, pasta and bread. They swell with water.
- Eggshells and fibrous peels. Even with a disposal, they can build up.
- Cotton swabs, floss and pads. They catch on joints and build clogs.
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Kitchen
- Fats, oils and grease. They harden in pipes. Let them cool and bin them according to Toronto’s waste rules.
- Coffee grounds. They clump and settle in traps.
- Rice, pasta and bread. They swell with water.
- Eggshells and fibrous peels. Even with a disposal, they can build up.
Bathroom
- Wipes of any kind. Even “flushable” wipes hold together in the sewer where toilet paper falls apart.
- Cotton swabs, floss and pads. They catch on joints and build clogs.
- Hair. Use a catcher in showers and tubs.
- Medications. Return them to a pharmacy instead.
Toronto’s green bin accepts many food scraps and some soiled paper. Check the city’s waste guide for current rules on oils and fats.
Laundry and garage
- Lint from washers can collect in drain lines. Use a lint trap on laundry tubs.
- Paint, solvents and motor oil go to a municipal drop-off depot, never a drain.
- Grout, plaster and drywall mud harden in traps.
Good habits
Scrape plates before washing. Use strainers in sinks and showers. Run plenty of water when using a disposal. If drains still slow down, call before they block. See drain cleaning and kitchen drain cleaning.
Questions we get about this
Are enzyme drain cleaners safe?
They are gentler than caustic chemicals and may help with slow buildup. They will not clear a solid blockage or roots.