15 Things You Should Never Put Down Your Kitchen Sink

Your kitchen sink might seem the most accessible place to wash away food and waste, but some things should never go down the drain. Certain items can clog your pipes, damage your plumbing, and even cause harmful effects to the environment. Knowing what to avoid putting in your sink is important to keep it running smoothly. Here are several everyday things you should never wash down your kitchen drain.

Grease and Cooking Oils

It might be tempting to pour leftover grease or cooking oil down the sink, but doing so can lead to major plumbing problems. As the grease cools, it solidifies, sticking to the inside of your pipes and creating blockages. 

This build-up can lead to slow-draining water or even complete clogs. Instead, pour grease into a container, let it solidify, and throw it in the trash. Keeping grease out of your drain is a simple way to avoid costly repairs!

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds may seem small and harmless, but they can cause big trouble for your kitchen pipes. When wet, coffee grounds clump together and stick to the sides of your plumbing, forming blockages over time. 

It’s best to dispose of them in the trash or use them in your compost. Avoid rinsing coffee grounds down the sink if you want to keep your drains flowing smoothly.

Eggshells

While eggshells seem harmless, they can be surprisingly bad for your sink. Small pieces of eggshell can bind with other debris in your pipes, leading to clogs. 

Even if you have a garbage disposal, eggshells can dull the blades and lead to build-up in your plumbing. Composting eggshells or throwing them away in the trash is a better choice.

Rice and Pasta

Rice and pasta expand when they come into contact with water, and this makes them a major threat to your kitchen drain.

Even small amounts can swell in your pipes, causing blockages that can get worse over time. As tempting as it is to rinse leftover rice or noodles down the sink, it’s best to throw them away in the garbage instead.

Flour

Flour and water create a paste, and when it goes down your sink, it can clog your pipes. Over time, this sticky mixture hardens and builds up inside your plumbing, blocking water flow.

Avoid washing flour down the drain by wiping it into the trash or compost bin. Keeping flour out of your sink will save you from potential headaches down the line.

Produce Stickers

Those little stickers on fruits and vegetables might seem harmless, but they don’t break down easily and can clog your pipes.

Stickers can also get caught in water filters and treatment plants, causing even more problems. To avoid plumbing issues, peel off the stickers and toss them in the trash before rinsing your produce.

Bones

Whether it’s chicken, beef, or fish, bones should never go down the sink. They are too hard to break down and can damage your garbage disposal.

Bones can also cause serious clogs in your pipes and plumbing system. Always toss bones in the trash to avoid any potential issues with your drain.

Medication

Flushing old or expired medications down the sink can contaminate the water supply and harm the environment.

Medications don’t get fully filtered out during water treatment, so they can end up in rivers and oceans, where they can harm wildlife. Instead, take expired meds to a pharmacy or a drug disposal program to dispose of them safely.

Paint

Whether it’s water-based or oil-based, paint should never be poured down the sink. Even small amounts can stick to your pipes, causing blockages.

Paint can also contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment if they get into the water system. Always dispose of leftover paint properly by taking it to a recycling center or hazardous waste facility.

Fibrous Vegetables

Vegetables like celery, asparagus, and corn husks have fibrous strands that can tangle up in your garbage disposal or cause clogs in your pipes.

These stringy fibers don’t break down easily and can wrap around your disposal blades, making them less effective. Toss fibrous vegetables in the trash or compost to avoid damaging your sink.

Fatty Foods

Fatty foods like butter, lard, and bacon fat should never go down the sink. Just like grease and oil, fats can solidify as they cool, forming a clog in your pipes.

Over time, this can lead to serious plumbing issues. To avoid this, scrape fatty foods into the trash instead of rinsing them down the drain.

Fruit Peels

While washing fruit peels down the sink might seem easy, they can cause major plumbing problems.

Thick or hard peels like banana and citrus peels don’t break down easily, causing clogs and damage to your pipes. Always throw fruit peels in the trash or compost to keep your drain running smoothly.

Potato Peels

Potato peels are starchy and can create a thick, glue-like substance when they break down in your pipes.

This starchy residue can cause clogs, especially when combined with other debris in the drain. To prevent plumbing issues, it’s better to discard potato peels in the compost or trash.

Cleaning Chemicals

Harsh cleaning chemicals, like bleach or drain cleaners, can damage your pipes and even harm the environment. While these chemicals may seem like a good way to clean your sink, they can corrode your plumbing over time.

Try using natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar instead — they’re much safer for your pipes and the environment.

Cat Litter

Even if your cat litter is labeled as “flushable,” it should never go down your kitchen sink (or any drain). Cat litter can expand and harden in your pipes, creating blockages. Plus, it can contain harmful bacteria that shouldn’t be introduced into the water system. Always dispose of cat litter in the trash to keep your plumbing safe.

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