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You can revamp your bathroom space into a stress-relieving and sweet-scented spa by adding a colorful and fizzy bath bomb into your tub.
Although bath bombs assist in wrapping up a tough day, if you aren’t careful enough, frequent use of bath bombs may cause bigger problems in your bathroom, especially by clogging the bathtub drain.
If you’re wondering how a simple bath bomb can clog the drain, the answer is the ingredients making up the product. The ingredients vary depending on the manufacturer.
What Is A Bath Bomb Made Of?
Typically, both bombs consist of oils, salt, and scent. They’re designed to make your bathing experience colorful and relaxing. The most common ingredients in bath bombs that are soluble in water include baking soda and Epsom salt (often used to soothe sore muscles).
However, other ingredients such as cocoa butter, glitter, flowers, cornstarch, and essential oils are insoluble in water. The insoluble additives leave a residue that can stick in the drain pipes.
The oils solidify when cooling. Cornstarch may harden in the pipe curves or elbows when drying. Over time, the deposits can collect hair, soap, and other items, thereby causing a serious clog.
Can I Use A Bath Bomb And Still Have Clean Drain Pipes?
It’s possible to use bath bombs without clogging the drains. All you need to do is to use them the right way and take some precautionary measures.
Here are some tips that can assist you to use these products without clogging your drains:
Tip #1: Install drain barriers to filter unwanted ingredients from finding their way down the tub drain. Ideally, the tub drain stopper should have a strainer. The strainer will keep large items away from the drain.
You can enhance the drain protection by putting a bath bomb inside a nylon cloth. Remember to tie the cloth to close it before putting it into the tub.
In this case, the nylon material will let the good ingredients to dissolve in water and keep away insoluble ingredients that may clog the drain.
Tip #2: In case you prefer using glitter confetti and floating petals, use them sparingly and get ready to do more work to prevent clogs.
Before draining your tub, take a mesh net and use it to catch any solid matter. If possible, remove the drain stopper temporarily and install another layer of protection over the strainer.
Cover the strainer with a mesh screen or nylon material for extra protection. Weigh down the strainer while draining the water.
Tip #3: As soon as you finish using a bath bomb, flush the drain with extremely hot water. You can also flush it with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in equal parts to help in breaking up any bath bomb residue before they settle.
To do this, take a cup of baking soda and pour it in the tub drain. Next, add a cup of white vinegar. Once done, cover the tub drain and allow the mixture to sit for five minutes. Then flush the drain with extremely hot water.
Is It Safe To Use Bath Bombs In a Hot Tub?
You may be tempted to add bath bombs in the hot tub. However, that’s the last thing you’d want to do. It’s not safe to use bath bombs in a hot tub.
The additives included in bath bombs may clog the hoses and jets in a hot tub. The oil and other insoluble ingredients in bath bombs may damage highly sensitive parts of a hot tub.
It’s recommended to check the manufacturer’s instructions that came with your hot tub before putting any substance in your tub. You might void your tub’s warranty by failure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Get Professional Assistance to Fix Slow Drains
Sometimes, bath bombs can clog drains pipes. If you like adding bath bombs to your tub frequently and the tub appears to be draining water slower than it normally does, then you’re probably dealing with a clogged drain.
Avoid using chemical drain cleaning products to clear the clog. The chemicals contain harsh ingredients that may damage the pipes. Besides, chemicals are bad for the general environment.
While it’s possible to clear a clogged drain with certain home remedies, the best thing to do is to seek the assistance of a professional plumber to clear the clog.
If you’re looking for professional assistance to clear your drains, look no further. Fast Plumbers is a leading plumbing company for unblocking clogged drains.
Unlike many plumbers, we offer a flat rate and upfront pricing. If your drains are clogged, don’t wait for the problem to worsen. Simply call Fast Plumbers through 1300 481 182 for further assistance.
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