Most drain clogs don't happen overnight. They build up slowly — a little grease here, a few wipes there — until one day the sink just won't drain. The good news is that most clogs are preventable. Here's what to keep out of your drains.

Kitchen Drain: The Biggest Offenders

Cooking grease and oil are the number one cause of kitchen drain clogs. Grease goes down liquid but cools and solidifies inside your pipes, narrowing the passage over time. Pour it into a container and throw it in the trash instead.

Food scraps — even with a garbage disposal — can accumulate in the line. Fibrous foods like celery, onion skins, and artichoke leaves are especially problematic. Starchy foods like pasta and rice expand with water and create a paste-like buildup.

Coffee grounds seem harmless but settle and compact inside pipes. Toss them in the compost or trash.

Eggshells can combine with grease and other debris to form a stubborn sludge.

Bathroom Drain: What Doesn't Belong

"Flushable" wipes are not actually flushable. They don't break down the way toilet paper does and are one of the leading causes of sewer line blockages. This includes baby wipes, makeup wipes, and personal hygiene wipes — even the ones labeled flushable.

Cotton balls, Q-tips, and dental floss don't dissolve and can tangle with other debris to form clogs deep in the line.

Hair is the most common cause of slow shower and tub drains. A simple mesh drain cover catches most of it before it enters the pipe.

Feminine hygiene products should always go in the trash, never the toilet.

What About Chemical Drain Cleaners?

Liquid drain cleaners can clear a minor clog temporarily, but they're hard on pipes — especially older ones — and don't address the root cause. If a drain is slow or clogging repeatedly, it's worth having a plumber take a look rather than reaching for the bottle again.

Simple Habits That Help

• Keep a grease jar next to the stove for cooking oil
• Use a mesh drain screen in the shower and kitchen sink
• Run hot water for 30 seconds after washing dishes to help flush residue through
• Schedule a drain cleaning if a line has been slow for more than a few weeks

If you've got a drain that's slow or backing up, give us a call at 805-528-CLOG (2564). We'll clear it out and let you know if there's anything deeper going on.