Blocked drains are messy, smelly and often expensive. Most blockages build up slowly from grease, food, hair and soap scum. A few good habits prevent most of them, and knowing how to use drain cleaner safely helps when one does block.
What causes blockages
- Kitchen sinks: fat, oil and grease that solidify as they cool, plus food scraps and coffee grounds.
- Bathrooms: hair, soap scum and toothpaste.
- Toilets: wet wipes, sanitary products and too much paper. Only toilet paper should be flushed.
Prevention habits
- Wipe greasy pans with paper towel before washing, and put cooled fat in the bin, never down the sink.
- Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps and hair.
- Pour a kettle of hot (not boiling, if you have plastic pipes) water down the kitchen sink weekly to help shift grease.
- Clean plugholes and overflows regularly with a brush.
Bad smells
Smells often come from food residue and slime in the drain or a dried-out water trap. Clean the plughole, run water to refill the trap and use a pine gel cleaner around outside drains and gullies.
When a drain blocks
Try a plunger first. If it's still blocked, a drain cleaner can dissolve the build-up. Our Drain Cleaner is a strong acid product, so it must be used with real care:
- Wear heavy-duty elbow-length gloves and eye protection.
- Read and follow the label exactly, including the amount and waiting time.
- Pour slowly and keep your face well away from the drain.
- Never use it with bleach, ammonia or any other drain product, or straight after another product has been used.
- Don't use it in a sink full of standing water or on surfaces it could splash and damage.
- Keep children and pets away.
Stock up
Drain Cleaner, Heavy Duty Elbow Length Gloves and Pine Gel are available from maxproducts.co.za. Ask us for the Safety Data Sheet.
Products mentioned in this guide
Available now from our sister company Max Products at maxproducts.co.za, in trade sizes and delivered in Cape Town.
Visit maxproducts.co.za →
Drain Cleaner
Heavy Duty Elbow Length Gloves
Pine Gel 5kg
