There are few household tasks as tedious and disgusting as clearing clogged drains. Particularly in the bathroom, where loose hair tends to be a major problem, over time your sink and bath/shower drains can become infested with dirt, grime and all kinds of hair that gets sticky and matted and creates that horrendous smelly clump we all know and hate.

But what if I were to tell you the unpleasant job of unclogging your drains wasn’t necessary? At least not if you treat those drains right and mitigate any clogs from being able to set in. With that in mind, here are a few handy tips to prevent your drains from clogging.

Keep food out of the way

In the kitchen sink, one of the most common causes of clogs can be loose bits of food and grease. A great way to prevent this is to ensure that all food that is placed in the sink is placed in a colander or strainer. When it comes to grease and oil, you also want to be keeping this as far away from your sink as possible. Instead of tipping it down the sink, tip it into a sealed container and put it in the bin.

Hot water

When you’ve finished making yourself a cup of tea and have a little extra boiling water left in the kettle, always tip it right down the sink. Boiling water is surprisingly strong when it comes to melting away fat and grease and dissolving bits of food that might have got trapped down there.

Clean your plugs

Every time you’ve pulled the plug on your bath, shower or sink, wipe the underside of the plugs clean. Every time you use them, small bits of scum and gunk will collect and over time that will build up into a clog. You don’t need to get too deep in the drain to make an impact here, just a little wipe with some toilet paper should do the trick.

Mesh screens

There are mesh screens available that you can install beneath your plug. This will catch hair and grease before it reaches the drain. The only downside here is that you’ll have to regularly remove the mesh screen and either clean or dispose of it. And that’s rarely a pleasant task.

Flush out your system

Occasionally, fill your bathtub and your sink to the brim and then pull the plug. This effectively flushes out your drains and could dislodge a potential clog before it becomes a more serious problem for you.

Keep the toilet for ones and twos

The only thing besides your own waste you should be flushing down the toilet is toilet paper. Anything else (even antibacterial wipes and cotton buds) can get stuck in your drains and lead to a build-up that not only impacts your toilet but your whole drainage system. Also, try not to flush too much at once. And yes, that means taking a break if you think it’s going to be a “big job”.