Short answer
Most blocked drains are caused by grease, food waste, hair and wet wipes. Wipe greasy pans before washing them, use strainers in sinks and showers, put only toilet paper down the toilet, and run hot water through drains regularly. Call a plumber when a drain first starts to slow down.
In the kitchen
- Wipe oil and fat from pans with kitchen paper and put it in the bin
- Never pour cooking oil, ghee or fat down the sink, even when hot
- Scrape plates into the bin before rinsing
- Use a sink strainer to catch rice, food scraps and coffee grounds
- Run hot water for a minute after washing up
In the bathroom
- Fit a hair catcher in showers and baths, and empty it often
- Clean pop-up plugs and strainers every couple of weeks
- Avoid rinsing thick products like hair masks and clay down the basin
What never to flush
- Wet wipes, even ones labelled flushable
- Sanitary products and nappies
- Cotton buds, cotton pads and dental floss
- Kitchen paper and tissues
- Cooking oil or food
A simple monthly routine
- Run water in rarely used drains, guest bathrooms and balcony drains, to keep traps full
- Pour hot tap water slowly down the kitchen sink
- Remove and clean shower and basin strainers
- Check under sinks for drips or damp
Catch problems early
A drain that is getting slower, gurgling or starting to smell is giving you an early warning. Cleaning it at that stage is quicker and cheaper than dealing with a full blockage or an overflow later.
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Kitchen and bathroom sinks cleared and drains restored.
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