How to Keep Your Drains Clean Year Round

Dealing with a blocked drain is stressful, unhygienic, and often expensive. The good news is that the vast majority of domestic drain blockages are entirely preventable with a little proactive care.

As drainage experts conducting hundreds of CCTV drainage surveys across London, we see the same avoidable mistakes every day. Here is our definitive guide to keeping your drains clean and clear year-round.

1. The Golden Rule: Watch What You Flush and Pour

The most common cause of blocked drains is putting the wrong things down them. Your drainage system is designed to handle only three things: water, human waste, and toilet paper.

• In the Kitchen: NEVER pour cooking fats, oils, or grease (FOG) down the sink. They may go down as a liquid, but they solidify in the cold underground pipes, creating massive fatbergs. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them.
• In the Bathroom: Do not flush wet wipes (even those labelled "flushable"), sanitary products, cotton buds, or dental floss. These items do not break down in water and will quickly snag on pipe joints, causing severe blockages.

2. Use Sink Strainers

A simple, inexpensive sink strainer is your first line of defence. Place them over the plugholes in your kitchen sink, bath, and shower. They catch food scraps, coffee grounds, and hair before they can enter the pipework. Empty them regularly into the bin.

3. Regular Natural Cleaning

You don't need harsh, toxic chemicals to keep your drains fresh. In fact, frequent use of chemical drain unblockers can corrode older pipes. Instead, adopt a weekly natural cleaning routine:

1. Pour a kettle full of boiling water down the sink to melt away minor grease buildup.
2. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar.
3. Cover the plughole and let the mixture fizz for 15 minutes.
4. Flush again with boiling water.

4. Keep Outside Drains Clear

During autumn and winter, outside drains and gullies easily become clogged with fallen leaves, mud, and debris. Make it a habit to sweep your patio and driveway regularly, and manually remove any debris covering the drain grates. Ensure your gutters are also clear, as overflowing gutters can wash moss and dirt directly into the drainage system.

5. Book a Periodic CCTV Drainage Survey

Even with perfect habits, older pipes can deteriorate, and tree roots can invade. If you live in an older property or have large trees in your garden, we recommend booking a professional CCTV drainage survey every 5 to 10 years. This allows us to spot minor issues—like hairline cracks or early root ingress—before they cause a catastrophic collapse.

Are your drains already running slow? Book a professional drain cleaning service or call CleverWorks on 01932 544 095.