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Just don't flush it down: 7 things that shouldn't be down the drain

2023-01-09T16:37:30.200Z


There is a threat of clogging: seven things that should not go down the drain Created: 09/01/2023, 17:30 By: Andrea Stettner What to do with leftovers, frying oil or old paint? For many, they just end up down the drain. But that can have serious consequences. Who does not know that? The stew from the weekend is already smelling sour, and then there's leftover protein from baking. Many just flu


There is a threat of clogging: seven things that should not go down the drain

Created: 09/01/2023, 17:30

By: Andrea Stettner

What to do with leftovers, frying oil or old paint?

For many, they just end up down the drain.

But that can have serious consequences.

Who does not know that?

The stew from the weekend is already smelling sour, and then there's leftover protein from baking.

Many just flush leftovers down the drain.

Food in particular causes devastating damage in the pipes.

Other substances from the home and garden even pose a serious health risk to humans and animals if they end up carelessly in the sink.

Food residue can clog the sink drain.

They should therefore never be washed down.

© AndreyPopov/Imago

Things that don't belong down the drain

Certain substances from the home and garden have no place in the drain and should be disposed of with the residual waste, the organic waste bin or collection points.

This includes the following things:

  • Leftovers:

    Food that ends up in the sink can quickly lead to clogs.

    This also applies to the toilet, by the way.

    It is therefore best to buy a drain strainer and empty it regularly.

    This keeps even the smallest bits out of the drainpipe.

  • Oil and protein:

    Edible fats and oils also do not belong in the sink.

    Over time, they attach themselves to the pipe walls and can lead to a clogged drain.

    Incidentally, this also applies to protein, which coagulates as a result of heat and then deposits on the walls.

    Oil residues from pans and pots are best wiped up with a kitchen towel.

    Fill large amounts of cooking oil into a container and dispose of it in the residual waste.

  • Coffee grounds:

    Coffee powder sands the pipes clean?

    Unfortunately, this kitchen myth is wrong.

    On the contrary: coffee grounds often combine with oil residues and then become rock hard in the pipe.

    Therefore it is better to dispose of it in the organic waste.

  • Medicines:

    Tablets, fever syrup & Co. dissolve in the waste water, but cannot be completely filtered out in the sewage treatment plant.

    So they end up back in our drinking water.

    How to properly dispose of old medicines is not uniformly regulated in Germany.

    Some districts recommend household waste, other pharmacies, mobile pollutants or the recycling center.

    You can find out about the requirements in your place of residence on the website arzneimittelentsorgung.de.

  • Cigarette butts:

    Soaked butts can do more than clog drains.

    According to Utopia

    , old cigarette butts contain

    around 4,800 chemical substances and 250 toxins, only a few of which can be filtered out of the wastewater.

    The rest ends up in water bodies and groundwater, which can have serious consequences for both us humans and animals.

  • Paints and varnishes:

    The same applies to toxins and chemicals from paints and varnishes (including nail polish!) - sewage treatment plants only filter out a fraction.

    Dried paint residues can usually be disposed of with household waste, liquid residues belong in the hazardous waste at the nearest collection point.

  • Pesticides and fertilizers:

    The same applies here: Toxic fertilizers and pesticides must not be down the drain.

    Disposal usually takes place at collection points, hazardous waste vehicles or disposal companies.

    On its website, the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety lists relevant bodies where consumers can inquire about proper disposal.

  • You forget these spots all the time when cleaning

    View photo gallery

    You can find everything to do with household and garden tips in the regular living newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.

    Sign up here!

    Food down the drain: clogs and bad odors can result

    Incidentally, anyone who disposes of food down the drain does not only have to expect a clogged drain: “Proteins in food contain sulfur, among other things, which can be broken down by microbes in the drain to form substances such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

    They stink!” Markus Egert, Professor of Microbiology at Furtwangen University, told the

    Süddeutsche Zeitung

    .

    Food leftovers therefore always belong in the organic or residual waste.

    If the drain already stinks, home remedies can help to eliminate unpleasant odors.

    Source: merkur

    All life articles on 2023-01-09

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