Nothing gives you a more luxurious feeling than adding a fizzy, fragrant bath bomb to your bathtub. It can provide you a spa-like soak after a day full of stress. However, they might have been clogging up your plumbing all this time, and you won’t even notice it until it was too late.
Salts within bath bombs that don’t dissolve or oils and fats that harden upon cooling can clog your drains. Decorative materials within the bath bombs such as confetti, herbs, flower petals, or glitter are the biggest cause of clogging. Most clogging can be prevented by using a drain Filter or a bath bomb holder.
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Most of the bath bombs constitute insoluble substances such as fats, insoluble salts, and decorative materials that slowly start accumulating in your drain pipes. If you do not take necessary precautions and timely action, you may have to spend a lot on plumbing repairs after some time. But with the right prevention, it doesn’t have to go that way.
Are bath bombs bad for plumbing?
With the craze for bath bombs that don’t look like it’s going to slow down anytime soon, the number of people complaining about their plumbing getting clogged has gone up exponentially.
With so much residue going in your drains, you may think it can handle a little residue, but depending on the condition, the age, and the type of plumbing you have, it most likely cannot. So if you’d search online whether bath bombs are bad for plumbing, the answer is ‘Yes,’ bath bombs can damage your pipes and clog your drains if used excessively.
As mentioned previously, depending on your plumbing system, things might be different for you. For example, if you live in a new home, your plumbing may be more efficient, but if you are residing in an old house, you have to take care of your plumbing lines to make them last longer.
What causes my drains to clog?
If you are a bath bomb enthusiast and love to try new scents every time you dive in your bathtub, then the chances are going to be quite high with you ending up on the phone with a plumber. But by knowing what actually causes these cloggings, you might be able to lower or even (in some cases) avoid entirely having to pay huge bills to get your plumbing cleaned.
Here are common ingredients used in bath bombs that go undissolved in the drain.
Salts:
Bath bombs contain salts, which, when they remain undissolved, can accumulate in your pipes. They will then attract other debris and hair to clog the pipes eventually. Salts that dissolve thoroughly do not pose a problem with drains.
Fats and Oils:
Another important components of bath bombs are oils, and if these oils tend to harden upon cooling, they will start blocking the drain as soon as temperature cools down. To save your drain, you should keep an eye on the type of fat present in your bath bombs. Essential oils aren’t much problem, but avoid bath bombs with butter, coconut oil, and other solid fats at average temperatures.
Decorative Materials:
Decorative materials are one of the biggest culprits out there. If you can eliminate this one, half of the battle is already won.
Some manufacturers add fancy or decorative material to their bath bombs to increase their aesthetic appeal. These materials may include confetti, herbs, flower petals, or glitter. They make the water surface appear very pleasing. But when they make their way to the drain, they cause trouble.
These types of bath bombs are not suitable for jetted tub or hot tub. The bath bomb can cause irreversible damage to your hot tub by destroying its jets.
How can I prevent bath bombs from clogging my drains?
Now I didn’t want to scare you, nor do I want to convince you not to use bath bombs.
But with the correct prevention, you’ll be able to enjoy your relaxing bath fuzz whenever you want.
Here are some tips that help greatly reduce clogging:
Using a Drain Filter:
One of the most effective ways to save the remains of bath bombs from going into pipes is using a removable drain filter. The filter will hold the bath bomb’s insoluble residue and prevent it from entering directly into plumbing. This small step can save you from a lot of hassle of clogged drains.
DIY your bath bomb holder:
Suppose you prefer using bath bombs that contain decorative components. If your bath bombs often have petals, herbs, or other cosmetic stuff, you can simply make a bath bomb holder. You don’t have to buy one. You can make it reasonably easy at home.
For this purpose, you’ll need a pair of nylon stockings. It will accommodate your bath bomb, and you can secure it with a rubber band or a hair tie.
Covering your bath bomb with a nylon bag will prevent the decorative materials from reaching the drain. In this way, you can save your drain from clogging. This is similar to having a drain filter, which will prevent you from a lot of hassle that comes from getting this stuff removed from drains.
Pouring Hot Water over the Drains:
If you are sure the culprit is the oil that hardens upon cooling, you might be able to solve your problem with plain hot water. It’s good practice to pour boiling water over the drains after every use of bath bombs or at least once a week. This will help melt the accumulated fat before it starts trapping hair and other debris to form a stubborn clog.
If the problem does not resolve by these two methods, you may need the help of a professional plumber.
What to do if your plumbing is clogged?
The first indicator of clogged pipes is slow draining. Even when it’s a little slower, this should be enough for you to take action. As you probably can guess by now, the longer you wait, the worse it gets. But sometimes, we don’t see it until it’s too late.
Here are some tips and tricks which can help you if your plumbing is clogged.
Pouring Vinegar in the Drains:
An easy and cheap tip for clearing out your drain from oils and salts accumulated by the constant use of bath bombs is pouring white vinegar regularly. There is not much to it. Pour the vinegar and after a few minutes, flush the tub with hot water. You’ll be amazed by the results.
Using baking soda and vinegar:
If vinegar alone doesn’t work, you can combine it with baking soda together. First, start with pouring hot water into the drain. Then put half a cup baking soda and half cup vinegar down there. Wait for at least ten minutes and then flush with hot water.
Using Drain Cleaners:
I prefer to try out natural ways before going for chemicals. But when it doesn’t work, it’s totally ok to go for a chemical solution. Just make sure to pick one that does not damage your drains. Not all drain cleaners are the same. In some rare cases, they might damage your drains, although the chances are pretty low.
Hiring Professional Drain Cleaners:
This is after you tried everything, but they still remain clogged. By now, it slowly starts to aggravate you. Especially if you’re continually facing recurrent or frequent clogs, it’s probably time to take professional help. Plumbers have the equipment and skills that are required to remove the clogs from your pipelines. A timely cleanup will cost you less, and taking action before things become serious saves many hassles.
The Final Verdict:
Taking precautionary measures to prevent your bath bombs from clogging your plumbing will help you most likely never have to call any professional. These little practices cost almost nothing and can save you thousands of bucks that you may need to spend on plumbing maintenance otherwise.