Various things that make their way every day into our home’s sinks, washbasins, toilet bowls, bathroom and balcony gutters lead to clogged drains. The sewage system requires particular attention; some simple things we can do every day can delay the clogging of drains; in addition to saving money for your apartment building and household, this will also help improve the operation of the sewerage network, make the operation of wastewater treatment plants (biological treatment) more efficient and consequently reduce the environmental impact.

For these reasons, avoid throwing the following down your drains:

1. Papers
   Such as toilet paper, tissues and napkins, which are the most frequent cause of clogged drains. Even in the case of things like biodegradable toilet paper, it is best to throw such materials in bins and not in the toilet bowl.
2. Hair – Soaps
   Such items, which end up down the drain when you are washing your body, can also cause serious problems in the sewage system as balls of hair and soap with water stick to the piping and accumulate there, gradually leading to the clogging of the drains. To avoid or at least limit this problem, use cheap plastic or metal catchers, which you can easily find on the market. These catchers catch the hair, which can then be collected with the aid of paper and discarded in the bin.
3. Food waste – edible fats and oils and frying oils
   Such materials, which mainly block sink drains, stick to the drain walls and also tend to accumulate, like materials in Category 2. It is recommended that all food waste, except edible fats and oils, be disposed of in waste bins before you wash the dishes. Edible fats, oils and frying oils can be handled as described here.
   
4. Personal hygiene products
   Personal hygiene products include nappies, cotton, Q tips, baby wipes, sanitary towels, tampons, dental floss and adhesive dressings. When the above are thrown down the drain, they expand due to the absorption of water, almost directly clogging the drains. It is recommended that personal hygiene products be thrown in the bin and never in the toilet bowl.
5. Miscellaneous
   The last category includes a large list of materials that cannot be classified in one of the above categories. Examples include cigarette butts, cosmetics, building or renovation materials (e.g. paints, cement, stucco, rubble, etc.), protective gloves, packaging materials, which should be handled in such a way as to avoid clogging the drains and always with a focus on Environmental Protection.