Wipes, fat and drains: what not to put down your toilet or sink

Most of the blocked toilets, sinks and drains we clear aren't caused by faulty pipes. They're caused by what goes down them. The fix is simple once you know what to avoid.

The toilet: only the three Ps

Pee, poo and (toilet) paper. Everything else belongs in the bin, including:

• Wet wipes, even ones labelled 'flushable'
• Sanitary towels, tampons and applicators
• Nappies and nappy liners
• Cotton buds, cotton wool and dental floss
• Kitchen roll and tissues, which don't break down like toilet paper
• Medicines, which should go back to a pharmacy

If you have a Saniflo or macerator toilet, this matters even more: wipes and sanitary products are the most common cause of macerator breakdowns.

The sink: no fat, oil or grease

Fat, oil and grease go down as liquid, then cool and set inside the pipe, catching food scraps until the pipe closes. It's how 'fatbergs' form in London's sewers.

• Let fat cool in the pan, scrape it into the bin or a container
• Wipe greasy pans and plates with kitchen roll before washing
• Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps
• Don't pour coffee grounds down the sink

Signs a blockage is building

• Water draining more slowly than usual
• Gurgling from plugholes after the bath or washing machine empties
• Bad smells from sinks or outside gullies
• Toilet water rising higher than normal when flushed

Catching a blockage early is quicker and cheaper than clearing an overflowing drain. If several fittings are slow at once, the problem is in the shared drain, which needs rods or jetting.