Spring isn't just around the corner; it's already here! Most people avoid doing large-scale housework or cleaning during the winter months. It makes sense to ride out the winter and start doing major household chores once the weather gets warmer. Besides the warm weather, there is also more daylight when spring finally rolls around, making cleaning much easier. Before you start crossing chores off your list, we need to discuss why drain cleaning should be a part of your spring cleaning checklist.

But the drains are fine

It's great that you haven't had any problems so far. However, you shouldn't wait for something to go wrong to check your drains. Think of drain cleaning as preventative maintenance for your plumbing. Clogged drains are something that most homeowners have to deal with. We recommend hiring professionals to do annual inspections.

Checking the drains regularly on your home will help:

• Clear buildup: Buildup can happen in both outdoor and indoor drains. If you haven't done regular cleaning, there could be years of buildup in your drains. Outdoor drains are susceptible to foliage and twig buildups. Kitchen and bathroom drains can house a year's worth of grease and hair follicles. That's just an accident waiting to happen, one that you can easily avoid with regular maintenance.

• Detect problems: Regular inspections will let you know about any potential issues before they escalate. Know about any cracks in the pipes and replace them in time.

• Prevent future emergencies: Clogged toilets can cause substantial damage to your home. Unpleasant odors and spillage can be hard to remove. So, drain cleaning ends up much cheaper than remodeling.

• Extend the life of your plumbing: Anything will last longer if you maintain it properly. The same goes for the drains and plumbing system of your home. Don't wait for the plumbing in your home to break down. If any pipe or fixture does need replacing, it will be cheaper than doing a complete remodel.

Why spring cleaning

Due to heavy rainfall and snow in some cities, winter can leave the drains in your home in bad shape. If the winter was particularly cold, your pipes could have cracks that hadn't been there the year before. Spring is the perfect time to perform a checkup and do some drain cleaning. Also, most people find that they are in a better mood when spring comes around. With a good mood comes more energy for work around the house too, which is why people decide to commit to detailed spring cleaning. And we have some additional ideas for this project since you are already invested in doing the job right. 

Unfortunately, spring comes with some issues as well. Melting snow leads to rain, and there tends to be a lot of rainfall during spring in many places. If your home has experienced plumbing issues, cracks, or leaks, you will likely face those problems again. This means it's imperative to do a checkup before any spring flooding occurs. As you can see, there are many reasons why drain cleaning should be a part of your spring cleaning checklist. 

Moving to a new home

If you are moving to a new home, you will be facing many uncertainties. For help with the move itself, browsing through Verified Movers will allow you to connect with professional companies they work with. And then, as if relocating wasn't stressful enough, you also need to think about the condition of the drains and pipes. Even doing a home inspection before you buy will only reveal so much.

Hire an additional professional to look at the plumbing and drains. Doing an extensive plumbing checkup before moving into a new home is a good idea. You will learn a lot about the current state of your home. You can use potential problems that the checkup uncovered as a negotiation tool to lower the purchasing price. Knowing any issues in advance will make your home easier to maintain. Also, you can do any needed repairs before you move in. And it will end up saving you a lot of time and money. Besides, no one wants to live on a construction site.

Keeping your drains in good shape

Sure, spring cleaning is great; with the new season, you also get to breathe new life into your home. If you have the energy, here are some other spring cleaning tasks that you can add to your checklist. Getting professionals to do a thorough checkup is better than improvising a DIY solution. While professional drain cleaning should be a part of your spring cleaning checklist, there are some things that you can do yourself to keep the drains in good shape.

Tips to keep your drains in good shape:

• Install drain stoppers. Make sure that all of the drains in your home have drain stoppers. This is also relevant for outdoor drains in your garden or yard.

• Clean the drain covers. The drain covers and stoppers are there to hold back larger debris. Once they have done their job, it's up to you to clean them. We recommend cleaning the drain covers weekly.

• Remove hair from shower drains. Lift the stopper and try to remove all of the hair and soap residues. You can use a wire or dedicate a pair of tweezers for the task.

• Avoid flushing large items. Makeup removal pads, wet wipes, cotton balls, and large paper towels have no business being flushed down the drain. Place these in the trash. You can have a small bin in the toilet you use only for these items.

• Use drain cleaning agents. Many options on the market won't corrode the pipes and are biodegradable.

• Don’t put just anything down the kitchen drain. If your kitchen drain is connected to garbage disposal, you will need to clean that as well. Grind a mix of ice and salt and follow it with lemon juice to get a fresh smell. Avoid putting cooking oil, grease, or fruit peels in your garbage disposal, since that can clog your kitchen drain easily.

You have seen why drain cleaning should be a part of your spring cleaning checklist. With regular cleaning, you will ensure that you avoid any accidents that need urgent repairs. We hope that you have enjoyed the article and that you will keep your drains clean and well maintained. 

Meta description: Drain cleaning should be a part of your spring cleaning checklist. Read on to find out why and get to it immediately.

Guest Contributor: Sophia Perry