SinkShield (a nifty device to prevent blocked drains)

Sinkshield is a wonderful little investment for your kitchen sink. Just place it in the sink to stop bits of food and tea/coffee grounds clogging sinks and drains, resulting in high plumber bills.

Latest advice is not to compost tea leaves and coffee grounds, as the acids could harm compost creatures. But swishing them around with water and pouring them out without some kind of filter can clog up sinks. 

Read our post on cooking oils to learn how to avoid clogging sinks with oil (just wrap and bin small amounts, but larger amounts need an oil recycling bin). Don’t pour cream liqueurs don’t drains either (just drink them up!)

This sink protector mat also is good to avoid damage to delicate items when washing up, and prevents scratches on your sink surface.

It has a removable plug for drainage and catching food debris, and grooves that channel water, to help drainage. And non-slip feet raise the grooved surface, for better drainage.

It’s easy to clean (just wash and dry by hand).

Allow cookware to cool to room temperature, before placing on top of the sink protector, and do not use submerged.

Tubshroom (unclogs sinks)

Tubshroom is a one-off purchase to place in your shower room tray, to stop hair from blocking drains. T his prevents spending £80 on a plumber and garden floods.

To clean, just remove and wipe away hair and debris, rinse under water and replace. It’s also dishwasher-safe. This company also makes DrainShroom snake, which attaches to a power drill to clear clogged drains with ease.

Use Baking Soda and Cleaning Vinegar

If drains are clogged, pour half to 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of cleaning vinegar into the drain or sink, cover for 15 to 30 minutes, then flush with boiling water. This causes an acidic reaction to break down residue, without damaging pipes.