Does your spring-cleaning routine include cleaning the drains in your kitchen and bathroom? Without regular cleaning, drains can quickly become unpleasant. From unwanted odors to slow running sinks, ignoring your drains can cause a host of issues. Fortunately, these simple cleaning tips will help you keep your drains in tip-top condition:
1. Choose the Right Cleaning Supplies
Before you get started, make sure you’ve got the right cleaning supplies to hand. The common staples are usually good enough — read some reviews to select one that works for you.
Whatever cleaning supplies you choose to use, be careful not to mix them. Mixing cleaning products can cause chemicals to react, which could give off toxic fumes. Remember – this applies to natural cleaning products too!
2. Empty Your Garbage Disposal
If you have a garbage disposal fitted on your kitchen sink, be sure to clean it out as frequently as you can. Food debris will begin to decompose swiftly, which can be a prime cause of unpleasant odors in the kitchen. For an easy way to keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, pour ½ cup of baking soda into it, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Finally, add some hot water and let it run through the drain.
3. Remove Drain Build-Up
Even if the water appears to be draining well, it’s possible that your drains are slowly becoming more clogged. You can remedy this by pouring ½ cup of salt and ½ cup of baking soda down the drain and letting it sit there for around 20 minutes. Simply let some warm water flow through the drain after this and you should notice that your drains are working better than ever.
4. Clear Blocked Drains
If you notice that the water in your sinks or shower is draining slowly, it’s a sign that there’s a partial blockage in the drain. Alternatively, if the water doesn’t drain away, the drain could be completely blocked. A cheap plastic drain snake is a simple way to physically clear blockages from your drains, so it’s worth keeping one in your cleaning cupboard.
5. Contact the Professionals
If you can’t clear a blocked drain or you notice water leaking anywhere in your apartment, don’t hesitate to seek help. Spring cleaning is a great way to keep your apartment looking and feeling great, but some jobs are more suited to professional plumbers or technicians. By contacting your building manager, you can access property management services quickly and easily. Whether a drain is partially blocked or simply not working well, it’s important to resolve the issue swiftly to prevent any further damage from occurring.
Report a Drain Issue Now
If you’d like assistance with a drainage issue, you can inform your building manager straight away by logging into our Resident Portal.
