Toilet blockages

A blocked toilet isn't nice for anyone! Here's how you can avoid this potentially embarrassing and inconvenient problem!

1. Watch what you're flushing

Even if they’re labelled “flushable,” don’t put feminine hygiene products or cleaning wipes, facial tissues, coffee grounds, grease or other fats or oils down the toilet.
Even kitty litter, and other products that are labelled flushable can cause problems. And ditch the drop-in tank toilet fresheners. These tablets often contain chemicals that wear out working parts inside the tank.

Teach your kids that toys do not go down the toilet!

2. Use only as much toilet paper as necessary

To prevent clogs, you should only flush as much toilet paper as is necessary - not large wads with one flush. These ball up so that only the outer portion dissolves, and waste and toilet paper that go down after this will build up and a clog will form.

3. Keep all household drain lines clear

It is even possible though, for other drain lines in the house, such as the one from your washing machine to cause problems.

Blocked kitchen drains

1. Watch what you put down them

The best ways to prevent slow or clogged drains is to be careful about what you put into them. Along with hair and soap scum, grease and coffee grounds are some of our drains biggest blockers. Avoid putting any of these items into a drain. Make sure you scrap your dishes of any food remains so they don't go down the drain either.

Save cooking grease and coffee grounds in an old container. Then dispose of it in the rubbish. Coffee grounds can be added to your garden mulch.

2. Clean drains regularly.

Run hot water through the sink after each use – this keeps oils in food products running down the drain, rather than building up on the interior surface of pipes.

Throw a handful of baking soda into the drain then run the hot water. Baking soda is a terrific cleaning agent, and it’s also great for absorbing foul odours and leaving your drain pipes smelling like a rose.
Alternatively, pour a cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes.  Again, run hot water after it.

3. Promptly Plunge Slow Drains

If you do have a problem with blocked drains, plunge it the instant it begins to function more slowly than usual. This will quickly restore your drain to its normal speed and effectively purge small clogs before they have a chance to grow larger.