Quick Answer: What's the Best Way to Keep Drains Clean?
The best way to keep drains clean is prevention. Use drain screens to catch debris, flush with hot water weekly, and run a baking soda + vinegar treatment monthly. Avoid grease, coffee grounds, and "flushable" wipes. These simple habits prevent 80% of household clogs.
Key Takeaways
- Drain screens prevent 80-90% of bathroom clogs
- Never pour grease down the drain—even with hot water
- Weekly hot water flushes keep buildup at bay
- Natural cleaners (baking soda + vinegar) are safer than chemicals
- Slow drains indicate problems—don't ignore warning signs
- Professional cleaning every 18-24 months extends pipe life
In 28 years of unclogging drains across Toronto, Mississauga, and the GTA, I've seen it all—from simple hair clogs to catastrophic grease blockages. The common thread? Most drain problems are entirely preventable with the right habits.
Here are 15 tips that actually work—the same advice I give my own family. If you need immediate help with a stubborn drain, call (647) 554-4356 for same-day service.
Kitchen Drain Tips (Tips 1-5)
Kitchen Drains
The #1 source of preventable clogs in Toronto homes
1Never Pour Grease Down the Drain—Period
This is the single most important tip. Grease seems liquid when hot, but it solidifies in your pipes—especially in Toronto's cold winters. Even running hot water doesn't help; it just pushes the grease deeper where it cools and hardens. Instead, pour grease into a jar, let it cool, and throw it in the garbage.
2Run Hot Water After Every Dish Session
After washing dishes, let hot water run for 30-60 seconds. This flushes food particles and soap residue through your pipes before they can settle. Make this a habit—it costs pennies and prevents hundreds in repairs.
3Keep Coffee Grounds Out of the Sink
Coffee grounds don't dissolve in water. They clump together and create stubborn blockages that even snaking struggles to clear. Compost them, put them in the garbage, or use them in your garden—just not down the drain.
4Use Your Garbage Disposal Correctly
If you have a garbage disposal, run cold water before, during, and for 15 seconds after use. Never put fibrous foods (celery, asparagus), starchy foods (pasta, rice), or eggshells down the disposal—they either wrap around blades or create paste-like blockages.
5Install a Mesh Drain Screen
A $5 stainless steel mesh screen catches food particles before they enter your pipes. Clean it after every use. This simple tool prevents the majority of kitchen drain calls we receive. Available at any hardware store or Canadian Tire.
💡 Pro Tip from Mike
Once a week, boil a kettle and slowly pour it down your kitchen drain. This melts grease buildup before it becomes a problem. Do this on Sunday night and your drains stay clear all week. Note: Only do this with metal pipes—PVC can warp from boiling water. Not sure what pipes you have? Call (647) 554-4356 and we'll help identify your system.
Bathroom Drain Tips (Tips 6-10)
Bathroom Drains
Hair and soap scum are your biggest enemies
6Use Drain Screens in Every Shower and Tub
Hair is the leading cause of bathroom clogs. A TubShroom, drain screen, or simple mesh cover catches 90%+ of hair before it enters your pipes. Clean it weekly—or after every shower if someone in your home has long hair. This $10 investment saves $150+ in snaking calls.
7Flush Bathroom Sinks with Hot Water Weekly
Toothpaste, soap, and shaving cream create a film that builds up over time. Once a week, plug the sink, fill it with hot water, then release. The pressure and heat flush minor buildup before it becomes a clog.
8Stop Using "Flushable" Wipes
"Flushable" wipes are the plumber's enemy. They don't break down like toilet paper and cause massive backups in both household pipes and Toronto's sewer system. The City of Toronto even has campaigns against them. Use regular toilet paper only.
9Address Slow Drains Immediately
A slow-draining tub or sink is a warning sign—not something to ignore. The clog will only get worse. Try a plunger first, then a Zip-It tool or hand auger. If that doesn't work, call us at (647) 554-4356 before it becomes an emergency.
10Run Water in Unused Bathrooms Monthly
Guest bathrooms and basement sinks that don't get regular use develop dry P-traps. When the water in the P-trap evaporates, sewer gas enters your home. Run water for 30 seconds monthly to keep P-traps filled and prevent odors.
🧪 Natural Drain Cleaning Recipe
Safe for pipes, effective for maintenance. Use monthly.
Note: This is for maintenance, not clearing existing clogs. For stubborn blockages, professional equipment is needed.
General Drain Maintenance (Tips 11-13)
Whole-House Tips
Keep your entire plumbing system healthy
11Use Enzyme Cleaners Monthly
Bio-enzyme drain cleaners (like Bio-Clean or Green Gobbler) use beneficial bacteria to break down organic matter. They're safe for all pipes, septic systems, and won't harm Toronto's water treatment. Use once monthly for preventive maintenance.
12Know Your Clean-Out Location
Every home has a main sewer clean-out—usually in the basement or outside near the foundation. Know where yours is before an emergency. If your main line backs up, this is where we access it. Mark it with a flag or tag for quick identification.
13Schedule Professional Cleaning Every 18-24 Months
Even with perfect habits, drains need professional attention. A maintenance cleaning ($99-$199) catches problems early and prevents expensive emergency repairs ($300-$600+). Schedule during regular business hours for the best rates.
⚠️ Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners
Products like Drano and Liquid-Plumr contain caustic chemicals that damage pipes—especially the older cast iron and clay pipes common in Toronto's established neighborhoods like The Annex, Rosedale, and East York. They also create toxic fumes and can injure plumbers who work on your drains later. Stick to natural or enzyme-based products.
Toronto Seasonal Tips (Tips 14-15)
Seasonal Considerations
Toronto's weather creates unique drain challenges
14Clear Exterior Drains Before Fall/Winter
Before leaves fall and snow arrives, check exterior drains, catch basins, and gutters. Debris causes water to pool and freeze, leading to foundation damage and basement flooding during spring thaw. A quick cleanup in October prevents spring emergencies.
15Prevent Frozen Pipes and Drains
Toronto winters are harsh on plumbing. Insulate exposed pipes, keep your thermostat above 15°C, and let faucets drip during extreme cold snaps. If you're leaving town, don't turn heat off completely. Frozen drains and burst pipes are expensive emergencies.
The Complete Do's and Don'ts List
✅ DO These Things
- Use drain screens in all drains
- Run hot water after each use
- Clean drain screens weekly
- Use enzyme cleaners monthly
- Address slow drains immediately
- Compost food scraps when possible
- Keep grease in a jar for garbage
- Schedule professional maintenance
- Know your clean-out location
- Run water in unused drains monthly
❌ DON'T Do These Things
- Pour grease, oil, or fat down drains
- Use chemical drain cleaners
- Flush "flushable" wipes
- Put coffee grounds in the sink
- Ignore slow-draining water
- Pour paint or chemicals down drains
- Flush feminine products or cotton balls
- Put starchy foods in the disposal
- Pour medications down the drain
- Ignore gurgling sounds from drains
Your Monthly Drain Maintenance Checklist
📋 Complete This Checklist Every Month
When to Call a Professional
These tips handle most routine maintenance, but some situations require professional equipment and expertise:
- Multiple drains backing up simultaneously — indicates a main line problem
- Sewage smell that won't go away — could be a vent issue or break in the line
- Gurgling sounds from multiple fixtures — venting or blockage problem
- Water backing up into other drains — serious blockage requiring hydro jetting
- Recurring clogs in the same drain — likely needs camera inspection to find root cause
- Visible signs of water damage — potential leak requiring immediate attention
If you're experiencing any of these issues, don't wait. Call Water Pro at (647) 554-4356. We provide upfront pricing, same-day service, and a 90-day guarantee on all work.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best natural drain cleaner is a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1/2 cup vinegar, wait 15 minutes, then flush with boiling water. This safely breaks down organic buildup without damaging pipes.
For preventive maintenance, clean drains monthly using hot water flushes and enzyme cleaners. Kitchen drains with heavy use benefit from weekly hot water treatments. Professional cleaning every 18-24 months keeps main lines clear.
Drain odors without clogs usually indicate a dry P-trap, biofilm buildup in pipes, or sewer gas escaping through vent issues. Run water to refill P-traps, use enzyme cleaners to break down biofilm, or call a plumber if odors persist.
Boiling water is safe for metal and ceramic drains but can damage PVC pipes and toilet porcelain. For plastic pipes common in newer Toronto homes, use hot tap water instead. Never pour boiling water after using chemical drain cleaners.
Never put grease, oil, coffee grounds, eggshells, pasta/rice, flour, paint, medication, or "flushable" wipes down drains. These cause the majority of clogs we see in Toronto homes. Use garbage disposal for food scraps sparingly.
Drain screens are one of the most effective clog-prevention tools. They catch 80-90% of hair and debris before it enters pipes. Clean screens weekly for best results. Invest in quality stainless steel screens that last longer.
Keep Your Drains Flowing
Preventing drain problems is much easier (and cheaper) than fixing them. With these 15 tips, you'll avoid 80%+ of the common clogs that send Toronto homeowners scrambling for emergency plumber calls.
The key takeaways: use drain screens everywhere, never pour grease down the drain, run hot water regularly, and schedule professional maintenance every 18-24 months. Small habits prevent big problems.
For more detailed information, check out our guides on drain cleaning tools, how often to clean drains, and drain cleaning costs in Toronto.
Need Professional Drain Cleaning?
Licensed plumbers available 24/7 across the GTA. Upfront pricing, no hidden fees.
📞 Call (647) 554-4356Same-day service • 90-day guarantee • 5,234+ families helped
About Mike Thompson
Master Plumber • License #MP-2847 • 28 Years Experience
Mike has been keeping Toronto drains flowing since 1996. He specializes in preventive maintenance and writes practical guides to help homeowners avoid expensive plumbing problems.
View Full Profile →