Hi, pals. I’ve got some friends who seem to think it’s a good idea to put bleach down your drain once a week. While that may keep things flowing smoothly, I want to warn you that bleach is one bad ass chemical. If you have old pipes or old cast iron or copper pipes, it’s not just going to eat away at all that hair and grease in your pipes – it’s gonna nibble away at the pipes itself.

Also, if you have a septic tank, for galoshes’ sake, do not put down any chemicals into your drain! Especially not bleach.

Your septic tank is teeming with what we call “good bacteria.” It’s the bacteria that breaks down all the waste and prevents your septic tank from overflowing. And when your septic tank overflows, it comes bursting up through your LAWN! So if you don’t want the nastiest geyser on earth to come to your backyard, then DO NOT KILL THE BACTERIA IN YOUR SEPTIC TANK with bleach.

That being said, if you are on the city’s sewer system and you want to give your sink a monthly dose of bleach, you’re probably fine. Just be careful – bleach can be hell on stainless steel if you let it sit.

I think a better method for the environment (and your pipes) is to mix up one cup of baking soda with one cup of vinegar and pour it down the drain. It’ll be all bubbly and nice. Then chase it down with  hot or boiling water and you’ve got the same effect as bleach but much nicer to all involved parties.

Yes!