Tips for the kitchen
- Tip 1: do not pour deep-frying oil or cooking fat down the sink, but let it set and put it in the general waste or take it to a collection point.
- Tip 2: wipe pans and plates with kitchen paper before they go into the sink or dishwasher.
- Tip 3: use a strainer in the sink to catch food scraps.
- Tip 4: once a week, pour a kettle of hot water with a dash of washing-up liquid down the drain.
In the kitchen, grease above all is the biggest cause of slow drains. Warm fat looks liquid, but it sets as soon as it reaches the cooler pipe and builds up a sticky coating layer by layer. With these four habits you prevent a layer of grease forming in the pipe and your sink keeps emptying quickly for years.
Tips for the bathroom and toilet
- Tip 5: fit a hair catcher in the shower drain and clean it weekly.
- Tip 6: only flush toilet paper down the toilet. Wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products belong in the bin, even if the packaging says they are flushable.
- Tip 7: remove the trap under the washbasin twice a year and rinse it clean.
Wet wipes deserve extra attention. They barely break down in the sewer and, together with grease, form stubborn plugs. So place a small bin with a lid next to the toilet, giving everyone in the house, guests included, a fixed place for anything that does not belong in the toilet. That small change keeps the drain clear for a remarkably long time.
Tips for outdoors and rarely used drains
- Tip 8: keep manhole covers, gullies and the drain from your gutter in the garden clear of leaves, sand and gravel, especially in autumn.
- Tip 9: run drains you rarely use, such as in a guest bathroom, utility room or cellar, every few weeks, so the trap stays full and you do not smell sewage.
When planting trees and large shrubs, keep an eye on the distance to the sewer pipe. Roots seek out moisture and easily find a small opening in an older pipe. After DIY jobs, do not rinse plaster, tile adhesive or cement residue down the drain either, but let them harden in a bucket and dispose of them as building waste.
Tip 10: preventive jetting
Even with careful use, grease, limescale and dirt build up on the inner wall of the pipe over the years. Preventive jetting with high-pressure equipment cleans the pipe along its full length before a blockage forms. For a family, doing this every few years is a good habit. For restaurants, businesses and apartment complexes with many connected households, a fixed schedule is sensible.
Choose gentle products
Harsh chemical drain cleaners may seem handy for maintenance, but they attack seals and older pipes. Choose hot water with washing-up liquid or an enzyme cleaner instead, which breaks down organic material gently. That way your pipework stays in good condition and you have a product you can happily use regularly.
Maintenance and surveys by Bosmans
Bosmans Rioolservice provides preventive jetting, sewer cleaning and CCTV drain surveys, carried out by certified engineers with more than 14 years of experience. A survey shows you exactly what condition your pipes are in, so you can plan targeted maintenance. You hear the rate in advance. Call +31 85 200 93 27 to schedule maintenance, or the 24/7 emergency line if your drain suddenly blocks.