What You Should Never Throw Down Your Drains

Your drains are designed to handle water and certain waste, but they’re not an all-purpose disposal system. Putting the wrong items down your sink, shower, or toilet can cause clogs, plumbing damage, costly repairs, and even environmental harm.

Many people think that because something is liquid or small, it’s safe to flush or wash away—but that’s not always true.


1. Cooking Grease, Oil, and Fat

When grease is hot, it’s liquid, so it may seem harmless to pour it down the drain. However, once it cools, it solidifies and sticks to the inside of your pipes, creating thick blockages over time.

Better alternative:

  • Let grease or oil cool and then scrape it into a container or jar. Throw it in the trash when full.
  • Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them.


2. Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds may seem small enough to rinse away, but they clump together in water and can stick to grease already in your pipes, making clogs worse.

Better alternative:

  • Toss them in the trash or use them as compost for your garden.


3. Eggshells

Eggshells break into small shards that can mix with grease and other waste, forming a thick, sand-like paste that clogs drains and garbage disposals.

Better alternative:

  • Discard them in the trash or compost bin.


4. Pasta, Rice, and Bread

These foods expand when exposed to water, even after they’re cooked. If they get stuck in your pipes, they can swell, trap other debris, and cause stubborn clogs.

Better alternative:

  • Throw leftover pasta, rice, and bread into the trash or compost.


5. “Flushable” Wipes

Despite the name, most flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper. They can create blockages in your plumbing and contribute to “fatbergs” (huge clumps of grease and waste) in city sewer systems.

Better alternative:

  • Dispose of wipes, makeup remover pads, and cleaning cloths in the trash.


6. Hair and Dental Floss

Hair binds with grease and soap scum in pipes, forming large clogs—especially in shower and bathroom sink drains. Dental floss can wrap around other debris, making clogs harder to clear.

Better alternative:

  • Use a drain screen to catch hair. Throw hair and floss in the trash.


7. Harsh Chemicals

Pouring strong chemicals like paint thinner, bleach in excess, or drain-cleaning acids down the drain can corrode pipes, harm septic systems, and contaminate local water sources.

Better alternative:

  • Use natural cleaning methods or products approved for plumbing. Dispose of hazardous chemicals at a local waste collection center.


8. Medication

Flushing old medicine can contaminate drinking water and harm wildlife.

Better alternative:

  • Take unused or expired medications to a pharmacy or a community drug take-back program.


9. Kitty Litter

Even if labeled “flushable,” cat litter can absorb water and expand, leading to serious blockages. Plus, it may contain harmful bacteria.

Better alternative:

  • Dispose of litter in a sealed trash bag.


10. Paint and Building Materials

Paint, plaster, cement, and grout can harden inside pipes, leading to blockages that often require professional removal.

Better alternative:

  • Dispose of leftover building materials according to local hazardous waste guidelines.