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3 Tips to Keep the Kids from Clogging the Drains This Summer

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Let's talk about something most parents don't want to think about: clogged toilets and drains. The kids are officially home for the summer, which means they'll be on a mission to make your days more challenging (that's putting it nicely).

Even if you're keeping the kids busy, they're bound to be a little mischievous, even if they don't mean to be. Our oldest had a fascination with flushing small toys down the toilet. That made summer an interesting and expensive season.

In the summer, we're also doing more laundry and entertaining more guests, which can put a strain on our drains.

If you want to avoid being the victim of summertime drain clogs, here are some tips to follow.

1. The Boiling Water Trick

Bathtub drains take a lot of abuse, especially in the summer when the kids sometimes bathe twice a day. Between the hair and the gunk, we wind up having to clean out the drain at least once a month. But this one simple trick managed to keep our bathtub drains free and clear for two whole months:

  • Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain

It's so incredibly simple yet so effective. The boiling hot water loosens gunk and hair that causes clogs, so you can send it down and out of the drain.

Just be sure to run the tap for a few minutes to continue pushing everything down the pipes.

The boiling water trick is just one way to prevent clogs. Our family has also been following these simple tips from Marvel Sewer and Drain:

"Make sure your shower drain is covered with a metal grate or other type of hair catcher. Try to limit the amount of hair that gets washed down your bathroom sink or shower/bath tub. Don’t put grease down your drains, even when diluting with hot water and soap. Collect grease in a glass container and allow it to cool before disposing in your trash can."

2. Keep Your Flushing Habits in Check

It sounds obvious, but when you have kids in the home, you don't always know what's being flushed down the toilet.

Tammy may get a kick out of flushing her puzzle pieces down the toilet. Before you know it, none of the toilets in your home are working properly.

Things like wet wipes, paper towels and even napkins shouldn't be flushed down the toilet. Even too much toilet paper can cause a clog. So, if you're little on has a habit of using half a roll of toilet paper at once, it may be time to break this habit to prevent clogs.

3. Take Care of Your Disposal

Summer can also be hard on your garbage disposal. It's easy to get distracted when you're entertaining or running after the kids. In those moments of temporary insanity, you may throw something in the disposal that doesn't really belong there – like watermelon rinds or grease.

Be mindful of what you're putting in your disposal, and be sure to flush it with plenty of water after using the disposal to keep it clear.

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