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Plumbing-Friendly Cleaning Tips for Homeowners
A task that many homeowners dread is cleaning their bathrooms (and rightfully so). The list can be long and daunting, from water marks on the vanity to soap scum in the bathtub. However, what if we told you that there are some standard lavatory cleaning methods that many practice in their own homes but should avoid at all costs?
If you're looking to keep your home's plumbing in tip-top shape, here are a few cleaning practices that you should never consider implementing into your routine.
Stay Away from Chemical Drain Cleaners
While cleaning your lavatory, did you stumble upon a clogged drain? If so, don't use a chemical drain cleaner — you'll be doing more harm than good. As it turns out, many standard store-bought drain "cleansing" agents are considered caustic — meaning they'll heat up when they come in contact with pipe debris and melt it into a goo-like substance.
Although this may sound fine and dandy, it's problematic — especially if you have PVC pipes or old metal pipes. With continued use, over time the drain cleaner can damage the pipe and lead to the inevitable (a plumbing leak). To lessen the chance of this happening, contact your trusted plumber to schedule a professional, chemical-free drain cleaning service.
Avoid Using Blue Toilet Tablets
Let's cut to the chase: your toilet water isn't blue for a reason (and it should stay that way). One of the latest low-maintenance "throne" cleaning solution trends is inserting a blue tablet into the tank of your toilet; every time "the john" is flushed, the tablet will clean your toilet. Too good to be true, right? Well, as it turns out, that tablet is quite dangerous.
Since these tablets contain an array of corrosive chemicals (i.e., anionic surfactants, chlorine, etcetera), the tablet can corrode your toilet's flush valve over time. Another thing to consider is that these cleaning tablets can get lodged under the flapper, which means your toilet will always be running.
Long story short: when it comes to cleaning your toilet, stick with the traditional method of using a plumbing-safe cleaning solution and a toilet brush — nothing else.