Are Bath Bombs Bad for Plumbing?

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock since 2010, you’ve probably heard of or used a bath bomb yourself. After all, there’s nothing more relaxing than slipping into a warm bath scented with lavender and decorated with flower petals. It’s basically a spa treatment inside your own home!

Unfortunately, while you’re relaxing, that bath bomb may be wreaking havoc on your plumbing.

Harmful Effects of Bath Bombs

Bath bombs make a great gift for the holidays, but gift responsibly…

Salt Doesn’t Dissolve

A large number of bath bombs are made from Epsom salts held together with essential oils. High-quality bath bombs used in a bath that is fairly hot should dissolve—but some may not dissolve all the way. You may not even realize your bath bomb is still partially intact before you go to drain your tub—leading to a chunk of salt clogging your drain.

Oils Adding to Clogs

Heavy oils are great for your skin, but they’re disastrous for your tub. Not only can they create a slipping hazard for other members of your family, but they can harden as they cool off—often as they’re on their way through your drains. Oils can cling to hair and other debris as it travels down your drain and creates a massive, gummy clog that can prevent your tub from draining fully.

Petals in the Drain

Epsom salts and essential oils aren’t the only things in bath bombs. Some are made with flower petals, confetti, or glitter to add a little something extra to your self-care routine. These can be great additions to the aesthetics of your bath, but the clean up can quickly become messy. Petals or small particles can get jammed in the drain, adding to any clog that could be forming.

Does this mean you need to stop using or find another gift for the bath bomb lover in your life? Absolutely not—there are a few ways to prevent bath bombs from creating a plumbing hazard in your home. Use a nylon stocking and create a DIY holder for your bath bomb to catch any loose petals or solid particles that could clog your drain. You can also clean out your drain every few weeks with vinegar and hot water to clear out any clogs that are forming.

If you’re facing slow clearing drains regardless of the steps you’re taking, you could be facing a more serious issue. That’s when it’s time to call the pros. The plumbers at Steve’s Plumbing & A/C Service (808) 563-4054. use a bio-clean drain cleaning process that doesn’t cause harm to your plumbing, family, or the environment. Schedule your service online or call us at (808) 563-4054 to set up an appointment today!

What Our Clients Say

Matt was very professional and considerate as we are in a COVID world. May not necessarily be the cheapest but you are paying for the quality, peace of mind, and quick response time to my urgent matter. I will definitely call them again for my next plumbing issue.

-Elias S.

If you have any plumbing needs this is the company to use. They said they would be there at 9:30 and by gosh, they showed up at 9:28 that not a normal thing when it comes to plumbing. Both of them were not they answered all my questions without hesitation and got the job done within 45 minutes even though they said it would take an hour and a half.

-Bob J.

Brayden and Maka worked on a major repair at our home over a time period of four days. We have high praise for both of them, their professionalism, courtesy, friendliness, and reliability. Steve’s Plumbing is lucky to have these two fine employees.

-Ulrich

Shon Bolo was very courteous. He was very informative about how Plumbing is just as important as the engine of a car. He was very respectful. Even though I wasn’t able to get everything done as expected. Shon was able to install my laundry tub to get my washer ready to drain and connected. Definitely would recommend shon bolo to friends and neighbors. Thank you very much for the wonderful job. Great service Shon!!

-Rowena H.

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