Unexpected surprises are just a part of life. Few surprises are as unwelcome as discovering your drains are clogged. Most people don’t even give a second thought to drain care when doing laundry, washing dishes, showering or brushing their teeth. Did you know the soap you are using can pose a potential risk to the health of the drain pipes in your home?
Fixing a clogged drain should be a priority, but it’s a lot easier to avoid the problem to start with if you know what could be creating the issue.
Soap Scum
Based on the sheer amount of soap scum removal products sold every year, it’s safe to assume that most people know that soap scum is an issue, but do you know what soap scum actually is?
Soap scum is the white residue you find around areas of your bathroom like tub and shower doors and walls, on the pipes and in the drains. It is formed when soap and other hygienic cleaners are mixed with hard water that contains minerals like magnesium and calcium. Unfortunately, most of the products you are using to keep fresh and clean are most likely setting the scene for clogs by forming residue that traps other things, like hair, that is being washed down your drains. Soap scum also attracts mold and mildew, creating a potential health hazard in your plumbing system. You may find soap scum in the kitchen sink, but the problem is much more common in bathrooms.
Bar Soap
The last thing you want after finishing up a refreshing shower is to find yourself standing in an inch of dirty water. It might not occur to you that soap will clog your drains, but it will. Bar soap can solidify in the drain, causing clumps of soap to form a large, sticky mass that will eventually lead to a blockage. While bar soap may leave you clean and smelling fresh, it leaves behind a layer of film in your pipes and on your shower walls. This film builds up over time and will prevent water from effectively flowing out of the drain. There is really no way to fully prevent soap scum, but the best remedy for reducing soap scum buildup is to simply change your soap. Liquid soap washes down the drain much easier and doesn’t cause soap scum buildup on shower walls and bathroom countertops. If soap buildup is already a problem in your drains, a good drain opener liquid is a good place to start in resolving the issue.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste scum is thick and sticky, and may be causing drain problems that you don’t even know about. When toothpaste is not properly and thoroughly washed down the drain it can trap other drain clogging debris. It can take a good deal of toothpaste scum to actually clog the drain, but in conjunction with everything else going down the sink, it can lead to problems. Just like soap, toothpaste creates a thick film that sticks inside your sink and drain. Be sure to wash it down with plenty of water every time you brush, and use a the LiquidRhyno Drain Opener to regularly to prevent buildup.
Laundry and Dishwashing Detergent
Just like liquid soap, liquid laundry and dishwasher detergents generally do not clog the drains in your home. The same is not true for powder detergents however. Before using a washing machine or dishwasher, it’s important to read the user manual on the recommended amount of powder detergent to use per wash. High-efficiency appliances typically require less powdered detergent than older ones.
It’s important to always use the correct amount of detergent for the best cleaning results, and to protect both your appliances and plumbing. Too much detergent may result in left behind soap residue, and too little can leave clothes and dishes stained and dirty.
Tips on how to avoid clogging your drain:
- Use liquid detergent instead of powder or bar soap to reduce the risk of clogging.
- Always measure detergents to ensure you are using the correct amount of detergent every time you run the washing machine or dishwasher.
- Once a month, apply LiquidRhyno Build-Up Remover bacteria treatment to keep drains clean and clear.
Treat your drains regularly with Build-Up Remover which uses natural enzymes to break down different types of soap scum and is safe for both your household drains and septic systems.
No matter what your drain care needs are, LiquidRhyno has you covered with a trusted, powerful product. We understand the hazards of a clogged drain and how it can affect your health and your daily routine, and strongly believe that healthy drainpipes support a healthy environment and healthy communities. At LiquidRhyno, our charge headfirst at plumbing and sewer problems, so that they perform like it should.
