After a long day, nothing beats a good, long soak in your tub filled with bath bombs. These fragrant spheres filled with essential oils help create a relaxing spa-like environment where you can de-stress. There’s just one problem: bath bombs are bad for your plumbing. 

How Bath Bombs Can Clog Your Drains 

Bath bombs are filled with salts, oils, and sometimes flower petals, all of which can clog your drain. Here’s how commonly used bath bomb ingredients can clog your drains: 

• Bath salts – Sometimes, partially dissolved bath salts get stuck in the drain and catch hair and other kinds of debris. 
• Fragrant oils – You should never pour oil down your bathroom drain or kitchen sink. That’s because oils can quickly congeal and cause clogs in your plumbing. 
• Flower petals – Flower petals and glitter look nice in your tub, but they can prevent water from draining away. 

Does This Mean You Should Avoid Using Bath Bombs? 

Fortunately, by observing a few precautions, you can use bath bombs without causing issues for your plumbing. Here’s an overview: 

• Place bath bombs in a nylon cover before putting them in your bathtub – The nylon cover (or pantyhose) will prevent petals from dispersing and prevent them from clogging your drains. 
• Pour vinegar down the drain after using bath bombs – Let the vinegar sit in the drain for several minutes before flushing it all away with hot water. If you experience clogs, call your local plumber as soon as possible. 

Important note: regardless of whether you use bath bombs or not, your plumbing will become prone to clogs if it isn’t maintained properly. How often should you have your plumbing inspected? As a general rule, you should schedule an inspection at least once a year. 

Looking for plumbers near you? 

Handyman Connection of Orange County offers a wide range of professional general contracting services, including plumbing services. To get a free estimate, call us at (714) 288-0077 or fill out this form.