It's easy to want to flush everything down the drain when cleaning, cooking, and living day-to-day life. What most homeowners don't realize is some common household items are detrimental to drains and can cause catastrophic back-ups. Some of these items may seem like a no-brainer, but the rest may surprise you.

Feminine Hygiene Products and Diapers – there's a reason most bathrooms have small trash bins, as these bulky products can cause clogs so extensive a regular plunger just won't cut it; especially for homes with septic systems where they can clog up different components of the treatment system causing the entire house to back up.

Other Paper Products – While toilet paper is specifically designed to dissolve in water, other paper products such as cotton swabs and paper towels are not. Once those materials get wet, it's easy for them to accumulate resulting in a clog. Beware of flushable wipes as well – most are still not safe to put down your drains despite the label!

Fats, Oil, and Grease – How tempting is it to just pour that bacon grease down the kitchen sink after cooking breakfast? We've all been there, but even the smallest amount of those materials can make a big impact on your plumbing by sticking to pipes and making it harder for anything to travel down your drains.

Coffee Grounds – Coffee grounds, like grease and paper products, can accumulate quickly and clog drains; they can even damage your garbage disposal. The easiest option for getting rid of coffee grounds is to throw them in the trash or, if you have a garden, around plants to help them grow!

For mitigating any and all drain problems, including jetting, snaking, and camera services, contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing today.