Spring is in the air! That statement might be more symbolic than anything else here on the always sunny Central Coast, but the sentiment is true.
That means it’s time for a fresh start. And if you haven’t included your drains on the list of items that could use a good spring cleaning, you definitely should.
Our awesome Orcutt plumbers have come up with a list of spring drain cleaning tips that will keep the water flowing freely all year round.
Clean out the Kitchen Sink and Disposal
One of the most commonly clogged drains in the house is likely the kitchen sink. Think about what all goes down there – even if you are avoiding no-no’s like grease, coffee grounds and other tough-to-break-down food waste.
Get down deeper into that nasty buildup by sprinkling baking soda onto the surface and working it into a paste and then rinsing thoroughly. Next, line the sink with paper towels soaked in vinegar. Let sit for 20 minutes. Throw out the towels, rinse the sink, and use a toothbrush to gently scrub handles and hard-to-reach places. Rinse one more time, and that’s it!
Once the sink is clean, tackle your garbage disposal. First, sprinkle ½ cup baking soda down the disposal, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Heat water until it is hot (but not boiling), and then pour down the drain.
Next, fill the drain with two cups of ice and pour 1 cup salt over the cubes. Run cold water and turn on the garbage disposal. Finally, cut a lemon in half and add the fruit halves, one at a time, down the disposal. Your disposal will be grime-free and smelling like spring.
Give Those Bathroom Drains Some Attention
If you’ve noticed the bathroom sink taking longer to drain or the water in your shower building up around your feet, it’s time to think about this with your spring drain cleaning tips.
HAIR:
Hair is an all-too-common culprit when it comes to stubborn clogs. You can resolve this issue by preventing hair from traveling down the drain in the first place. Install drain guards; you might be surprised by how much they collect! Just be sure to clean them out regularly.
DIRT:
When drains and pipes wash dirt away, it can collect into a big problem. Next time you come home from a hike or the beach, do your best to rinse off excess mud and dirt outdoors before taking a shower.
SOAP:
It may sound innocent, but soap has the power to clog pipes. Slowly and silently over time, soap simply accumulates as it’s carried down the drain. You can prevent soap buildup by avoiding traditional soap bars (which are often made from grease or fat).
Time for a Root Inspection?
If you’re taking all the proper spring drain cleaning precautions and you’ve followed all our cleaning tips, but you’re still getting frequent clogs or backups, you might have a bigger, unseen problem.
Yes, roots can grow into the cracks or joints of sewer pipes in search of water and cause serious damage. Clay or concrete installed between 1920 and 1970 are especially vulnerable because they were not always water-tight when installed. That means roots can have room to grow freely into the pipes. Even the smallest leak or crack in your underground pipes will attract tree root growth.
If this is the case, it’s likely time for our Orcutt plumbing pros to tackle this problem with a drain pipe inspection and cleaning. Scheduling preventative plumbing maintenance appointments with the drain cleaning experts at Griffin is another great way to keep things clean.
Our Orcutt plumbing pros are always a call or click away.
