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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The £2.25 cleaning cupboard staple that could be RUINING your pipes and land you with a £400 bill
Plus, find out the natural alternatives that work just as well PIPE DOWN The £2.25 cleaning cupboard staple that could be RUINING your pipes and land you with a £400 bill WE'VE all used it to get rid of annoying clogs in the drain. But did you know that using quick fix chemical drain cleaners could land you with a £400 bill? 2 Chemical pipe cleaners, which you can get cheaply from the supermarket, could lead to damage in your pipes Credit: Getty 2 Consider using baking soda and white vinegar instead, as a natural alternative Credit: Getty According to a new survey from Saga, around 58% of people confess to using one of the products - which work by creating a reaction that generates heat, dissolving blockages of grease, hair, and waste. However, Saga home insurance's product manager Anna Thunstrom warned that the cleaners, most of which contain strong alkaline or acidic chemicals, "can do more harm than good in the long run". "It can erode metal and plastic pipes, leading to pipe corrosion, and worsen blockages if it doesn't fully clear and hardens inside pipes," she said. And if you have to enlist the help of a professional to get rid of the blockage, you can expect to pay anything from £50 to a whopping £400. "The severity, location, and repair method that's needed to clear a blocked drain all influence how much it could cost," Anna explained. "Don't forget you'll also need to pay the call-out fee, which could be around £50, up to £200 for out of hours." The survey, in which Saga questioned 500 Brits, also revealed the five biggest culprits when it comes to what causes a drain blockage. And many of the problem items come from the kitchen - with oil and grease often leading to "fatbergs", a "hard rock-like accumulation of non-biodegradable waste that causes major blockages in drains and sewers". While research from Unblocktober - the world's first month-long national campaign and awareness month to improve the health of our drains - backs up Saga's survey. "Our own survey found that when asked to identify items that contribute to the formation of fatbergs, 78% of the UK public identified fat, oil, and grease from cooking, 66% identified sanitary towels, 56% identified wet wipes, 50% identified cooking sauces, and 50% identified tampons," Unblocktober's Jacob Larkin said. The cable-tie-scissor trick plumbers swear by to get hair clogs out of your drain & it's WAY better than pricey liquids And when it comes to toilets, it's best to stick to the 'three Ps rule'. 'Our number one piece of advice is to stick to the three Ps rule when it comes to flushing waste," Jacob said. "Only flush pee, poo, and paper!' After putting the chemical cleaners to one side, there are some natural alternatives you can try to get rid of drain blockages instead. 5 cleaning hacks Say goodbye to ironing Don't have time to smooth out the wrinkles of a shirt with an iron? Lenor's Crease Releaser makes wrinkles vanish - simply hang up creased items, give them a quick spritz and smooth against a hard surface. Teabags for trainers When trainers smell a little squiffy, pop a used (and still moist) tea bag inside and leave for about an hour. The tannins will seep into the sole of the shoe to fight nasty-smelling odours. Remove limescale without scrubbing When bathroom taps start looking a little grimy with limescale, slice a lemon in half and sprinkle on baking soda. Rub the fruit over the taps and with a gentle clean they will come up sparkling. Use a toothbrush to get in all the nooks and crannies. Streak-free mirrors and windows White vinegar is a handy secret weapon when it comes to keeping mirrors and windows streak-free. Mix one part white vinegar with four parts water in a spray bottle. Squirt then wipe with a microfibre cloth and voilà, clean glass in an instant. Make your home smell amazing For dust-free skirting boards, pour some fabric softener onto a cloth and give them a quick wipe. It will stop dirt collecting so quickly and, as an added bonus, make your home smell amazing. For grease-based clogs, try boiling water - but avoid if you have PVC pipes, as they could melt or soften. Baking soda and white vinegar is a good choice as it causes a natural reaction that can help dissolve buildup. Drain snakes or plungers are effective for hair and solid debris, while enzyme-based cleaners are gentler on pipes, and work by 'digesting' the blockage.
Scottish Sun
13-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Five expert hacks to stop your bins from smelling this summer – are you storing yours all wrong?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE warm weather can cause your kitchen bin to be emit unwanted odours. To stop your leftover from marinating in the heat, experts have revealed five simple hacks to keep your bin smelling fresh all summer long. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Cleaning experts have revealed the steps you can take to get your bin smelling fresher than ever (stock image) Credit: Getty Echo News spoke to a variety of cleaning pros and rounded up the top five steps to a fresh bin. First, home cleaning company Method recommended emptying your bin every couple of days. They added that this is especially necessary if you've just thrown away anything "particularly pungent". "If you're dealing with food waste, consider getting a compost bin to separate out organic scraps and reduce bin stink altogether," they explained. Ryan Kaila, who works as a waste and recycling expert for Kingfisher Direct, revealed another way to limit bad smells in your bin. "Baking soda is a household item that can be used to reduce foul smells in the bin," he advised. "Simply sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda in the bottom of the bin before placing a new bin liner in." He explained that baking soda is effective in neutralising odour molecules in the air. According to the expert, for this hack to work effectively, you should always wash your bin thoroughly beforehand. Keeping your bins out of direct sunlight can also help prevent foul smells, says Michael Bogoyavlenskiy, CEO of Cleaning Express. I'm a cleaning expert, you're mopping your floor all wrong, all you need is a pair of socks "First, try to keep your bins in the shade if you can, as this'll limit how hot they get," he explained. "If it's not possible to move them, consider building a bin storage area that provides some shade." He also suggested double-bagging particularly smelly items, including fish packaging, before throwing away. You can also sprinkle in scented products along with baking soda, battling the bad odours. Scented bin liners and bin fresheners are popular choices, while anti-bacterial sprays, such as Method's all-purpose cleaner, can also be added to a bin before adding a bin bag. 5 cleaning hacks Say goodbye to ironing Don't have time to smooth out the wrinkles of a shirt with an iron? Lenor's Crease Releaser makes wrinkles vanish - simply hang up creased items, give them a quick spritz and smooth against a hard surface. Teabags for trainers When trainers smell a little squiffy, pop a used (and still moist) tea bag inside and leave for about an hour. The tannins will seep into the sole of the shoe to fight nasty-smelling odours. Remove limescale without scrubbing When bathroom taps start looking a little grimy with limescale, slice a lemon in half and sprinkle on baking soda. Rub the fruit over the taps and with a gentle clean they will come up sparkling. Use a toothbrush to get in all the nooks and crannies. Streak-free mirrors and windows White vinegar is a handy secret weapon when it comes to keeping mirrors and windows streak-free. Mix one part white vinegar with four parts water in a spray bottle. Squirt then wipe with a microfibre cloth and voilà, clean glass in an instant. Make your home smell amazing For dust-free skirting boards, pour some fabric softener onto a cloth and give them a quick wipe. It will stop dirt collecting so quickly and, as an added bonus, make your home smell amazing. Finally, you will want to ensure your bin remains dry as moisture can significantly increase bacteria levels, causing bad odours. If you notice condensation inside your bin, wipe it down with a microfibre cloth before replacing the bin liner. The experts at Method also recommend disposing of any food waste in sealed containers. This helps to prevent the buildup of unwanted residue at the bottom of your bin, helping to keep things fresh and reduce unwanted smells.
