Food Items That Clog Your Kitchen Drains

Mr. Rooter Plumbing is committed to helping you keep your plumbing system in good working order, including kitchen drains. Our highly trained plumbers are familiar with the food items that you should keep out of your kitchen drains. We also take pride in offering professional clogged drain line repair services. Today, we will list a number of food items that you should never pour down your kitchen drain.

• Pasta and Rice

Ever cooked pasta or rice and watched it increase in size as it absorbs water? That’s exactly what happens when these food items find their way into drain lines. They’ll clump together and cause a major clogging issue. You can always count on the licensed plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing to carry out professional drain cleaning, but to prevent the problem altogether, toss leftover pasta and rice in the trash.

• Nut Butters

Nut butters, like peanut butter and almond butter, are sticky and can easily clog drains. Wipe away any excess nut butter from utensils and dishes before washing them.

• Fruit and Vegetable Peels

While they may seem small and harmless, fruit and vegetable peels can build up over time and form clogs in your kitchen sink drains, especially peels from tougher fruits and vegetables like potatoes. It's a good idea to compost them or dispose of them in the trash.

• Seafood Shells

Seafood shells are harmful to both your kitchen sink drain line and the garbage disposal. Even the impellers that spin around can’t handle hard seafood shells, like those from oysters, clams, or lobsters. Even if they don’t damage the blades directly, crushed shells can clog your kitchen sink drains. It is advisable to dispose of seafood shells in the trash. If your garbage disposal is acting up for some reason, do not hesitate to contact a trusted plumbing repair service for an inspection.

• Eggshells

Eggshells are another common offender when it comes to clogged drains. There’s a plumbing myth floating around that eggshells can be used to sharpen garbage disposal blades. This is misleading and could lead to a number of plumbing woes. Eggshells have a sand-like consistency; hence, they can easily combine with food scraps and create clogs. It’s advisable to compost eggshells or toss them in the trash.

• Coffee Grounds

Despite their small size, coffee grounds are not completely water-soluble and can turn into a soggy mess when they come into contact with water. Contrary to the widespread misconception, they will mix with other buildup already in the pipes—like soap scum, cooking oil, or leftover grease—and create stubborn clogs. Just make sure coffee grounds end up in the trash can or compost pile, not down the kitchen sink.

Plumbing Service for Clogged Drains

For professional drain cleaning, contact the experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing. Our plumbers have extensive experience and cutting-edge tools to clear even the most stubborn clogs caused by tree roots. Whether you’re experiencing a slow-draining kitchen sink drain or a completely backed-up bathtub, we are the team to call.