1. Grease, oil and fat
It goes down as a liquid and hardens as it cools, coating the inside of pipes until they close up. Pour it into a can or jar, let it harden, and throw it away.
2. “Flushable” wipes
They don’t break down like toilet paper. They catch on rough spots and roots in the sewer line and build into clogs. Put them in the trash.
3. Paper towels and tissues
They’re made to hold together when wet. Only toilet paper should go down the toilet.
4. Coffee grounds
They clump together in pipes, especially combined with grease. Compost them or put them in the trash.
5. Rice, pasta and bread
They absorb water and swell, turning into a paste that sticks in traps and pipes.
6. Stringy and fibrous foods
Celery, onion skins, corn husks and potato peels wrap around garbage disposal blades and catch in the drain line.
7. Eggshells
They grind into small, sand-like pieces that settle in pipes and add to clogs.
8. Paint, solvents and chemicals
They can damage pipes and harm the environment. In Los Angeles, take household hazardous waste to a city S.A.F.E. collection center instead.
9. Medications
Flushing medicine sends it into the water system. Use a pharmacy take-back program or drop-off kiosk instead.
Simple habits that help
- Use a strainer in the kitchen sink and a hair catcher in the shower.
- Run water for a few seconds after using the garbage disposal.
- Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them.
- Have older sewer lines camera-inspected if clogs keep coming back.