Keep the Holidays Flowing: Your Complete Guide to Holiday Drain Care
The turkey's in the oven, the family's gathering, and everything's perfect—until someone yells from the kitchen that the sink won't drain.
We’ve seen it happen many times: holiday celebrations interrupted by plumbing problems that could have been prevented. Your drains work overtime during the holidays. Between elaborate meal prep, extra dishes, and a house full of guests, your plumbing faces challenges it doesn’t see the rest of the year. But with the right knowledge and a little preparation, you can keep everything flowing smoothly through every celebration.
Why Holiday Drains Get Overwhelmed
Your drainage system is designed for everyday use, not marathon cooking sessions and back-to-back showers from visiting family. During the holidays, we’re asking our plumbing to handle significantly more than usual.
In the kitchen, we’re dealing with extra cooking grease and food scraps from elaborate meals. Multiple cooks in the kitchen mean more chances for the wrong things to go down the drain. And let’s be honest—when you’re juggling turkey prep, side dishes, and desserts, it’s easy to let your guard down about what goes where.
Your bathrooms face their own challenges. Guests using facilities more frequently means more toilet flushes, more showers, and, unfortunately, more opportunities for non-flushable items to end up where they shouldn’t.
What NOT to Put Down Your Drains or Disposal
Even if you have a garbage disposal (and despite what the name “InSinkErator” might suggest), your disposal isn’t meant to handle everything.
The Kitchen Drain No-No List
Grease, Fats, and Oils
We know it’s tempting to pour that turkey grease down the drain with hot water, but it’s one of the worst things you can do. Grease solidifies as it cools, creating stubborn clogs that build up over time. Instead, pour grease into a can or jar, let it solidify, and toss it in the trash.
These Foods Don’t Belong in Your Disposal:
- Bones (yes, even small chicken bones)
- Eggshells (they create a sand-like substance that sticks to pipe walls)
- Fibrous vegetables like celery, asparagus, and corn husks
- Potato peels (they create a starchy paste that clogs pipes)
- Pasta and rice (they expand with water and create blockages)
- Coffee grounds (they clump together in pipes)
All of these belong in the trash or compost, not your disposal.
Garbage Disposal Do's and Don'ts
Your garbage disposal can be a helpful tool when used correctly. Here’s how to keep it running smoothly through the holidays:
DO:
- Run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal.
- Feed small amounts at a time—don’t dump a whole cutting board’s worth at once.
- Keep it clean by occasionally grinding ice cubes and citrus peels.
- Use it for small food scraps that accidentally go down the drain.
DONT:
- Assume it can handle everything (despite what the name suggests).
- Run hot water while grinding (it can melt fats that later solidify in pipes).
- Stuff it full—overloading causes jams and motor burnout.
- Use it as your primary food waste solution.
Remember, your disposal is meant to handle the small bits that rinse off plates, not to be your kitchen’s main trash can.
The Bathroom Drain Rules
Paper Towels and “Flushable” Wipes
Paper towels should never go down the toilet. They’re designed to be absorbent and strong, which means they don’t break down like toilet paper.
And those “flushable” wipes? We’ll talk more about those in a moment, but spoiler alert—they’re not as flushable as advertised.
Keep it to human waste and toilet paper. That’s it. That’s all, folks.
The Truth About “Flushable” Products
Let’s clear this up once and for all: most wipes labeled “flushable” aren’t truly flushable. Unlike toilet paper, which breaks down quickly in water, these wipes stay intact long after flushing. They don’t disintegrate properly in your pipes or the city sewer system.
These wipes contribute to serious clogs in both home plumbing and municipal sewer systems. They combine with grease and other materials to create massive blockages that require professional removal. The result? Expensive repairs that could have been easily avoided.
The solution is simple: provide small trash bins with lids in your bathrooms for guests. A little sign reminding people to use the trash for everything except toilet paper can save you from a holiday plumbing emergency.
Simple Prevention Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday
Before Guests Arrive:
- Install inexpensive sink strainers to catch food particles.
- Place trash bins in every bathroom.
- If you’ve noticed slow drains, address them now—not when you have a houseful of guests.
- Consider scheduling a pre-holiday drain inspection if you’ve had issues before.
During Celebrations:
- Scrape plates into the trash before rinsing.
- Keep a container near the sink for grease and oils.
- Space out dishwasher and washing machine loads.
- Remind helpful guests about disposal do’s and don’ts.
After the Festivities:
- Run hot water through drains for a minute to clear any buildup.
- Check that all drains are flowing properly.
- Address any slow drains immediately before they become full clogs.
When to Call Bonfe (Fast Help When You Need It!)
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, drain problems happen. Here’s when it’s time to call in the professionals:
- Water backing up in sinks, tubs, or toilets
- Multiple drains running slowly at once
- Gurgling sounds from drains
- Sewage odors coming from drains
- Water appearing where it shouldn’t (like backing up in the tub when you flush)
The good news is that we’re available 24/7/365—yes, even on holidays. We understand that plumbing emergencies don’t take holidays off, and neither do we. With regular rates from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week, we’re here when you need us most.
Why Homeowners Trust Bonfe
We’ve been keeping Twin Cities homes flowing smoothly since 1993. As a 100% family-owned and locally operated company, we understand Minnesota homes and the unique challenges they face—especially during our long winters and busy holiday seasons.
Our A+ BBB rating and 4.8 stars from over 10,600 Google reviews reflect our commitment to reliable, professional service. Our friendly, professional technicians arrive prepared to solve your problem quickly, getting your holiday back on track.
Enjoy the Holidays. Leave the Drains to Us.
The holidays should be about making memories with loved ones, not dealing with drain disasters. With these prevention tips, you’re well-equipped to keep your plumbing happy through every celebration.
But if something does go wrong, remember—you’re not alone. Bonfe is just a phone call away, ready to help 24/7/365.
Save our number (651-301-8647) in your phone now, just in case. Visit bonfe.com to learn more about our drain cleaning services or to schedule preventive maintenance.
Here’s to smooth-flowing drains and stress-free holidays! From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with good food, great company, and absolutely no plumbing problems.
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