Bath Bombs and Your Plumbing

The Effects of Bath Bombs on Your Drain

Bath bombs enhance bathing experiences by adding essential oils, colors, scents, fizz, and more to your bath water. They come in unique shapes and sizes with the purpose of providing fun and relaxation while moisturizing and cleansing your skin. Bath bombs are made out of baking soda, epsom salt, corn starch, citric acid, essential oils, colorful dye, as well as other additives one may choose including glitter, flower petals, etc. Once the bomb is placed into water, it becomes effervescent, releasing the colors and different additives. When you are done enjoying the benefits of bath bombs, you simply remove the stopper so the water can go down the drain. However, water isn’t the only thing going down the drain. The oils and other added ingredients are being flushed down into your pipes. With continuous bath bomb use, a clog is likely to occur as those added ingredients latch on to the pipes and attract other substances like soap and hair. While we don’t want to tell you not to use bath bombs because they can potentially clog your drain, we do want to inform you on how to use them in ways that can help prevent plumbing issues.

How to Prevent Clogs

If you are a frequent bath bomb user or even just like to enjoy them from time to time, it is important to try to prevent clogs as much as possible. This can be done in a couple of ways. Try your best to ensure things like glitter and flower petals don’t make it down your drain. This can be done by using a shower strainer as well as putting nylon around the drain so that the unwanted objects stay out. Another way to prevent clogs is to try your best to remove the residue before it goes down your drain, which can be tricky and time-consuming, but certainly worth it.

How to Clean Your Drain After Bath Bomb Use

To keep your drain and plumbing clean of bath bomb residue, you can clean your drain after the fact. You can do this by using baking soda and white vinegar. First, pour about 1 cup of the baking soda down, followed by 1-2 cups of the vinegar. Next, cover the drain and let the vinegar and baking soda sit for about 5 minutes. Finally, when the time is up, turn on your tub’s hot water. Doing this could help you save money and prevent a serious plumbing issue.

Call Stephens for Plumbing Assistance

If you find that your water is having difficulty draining after bath bomb uses, there is most likely a clog. In the event of a serious clog, it is important to call someone you trust to handle your plumbing. Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning is more than ready to help! Along with drain repair, we can also install, repair, or replace your tub spout, tub lever, and water supply line. We have over 32 years of plumbing experience, so you can count on our fully licensed and trained technicians to get the job done. Call and make an appointment with us today!