Nick Knowles appeared on BBC Morning Stay to warn about widespread home items that may trigger severe plumbing issues and flooding

Nick’s joke bought a spherical of applause (Picture: BBC Morning Stay)
A DIY tv character has warned owners to train warning or danger flooding their properties. Talking on BBC Morning Stay, Nick Knowles highlighted a widespread subject that always leads folks to inadvertently trigger important injury.
Nick, famend for DIY SOS and different in style programmes together with Who Dares Wins and Break The Protected, emphasised that whether or not you are coping with the kitchen sink, bathe or rest room, understanding that is important. Taking motion now might forestall an emergency scenario.
Discussing what you “should not be chucking down varied drains and bogs”, he emphasised that “oil and fats specifically is a extremely, actually dangerous factor. Don’t put oil and fats down your drains.
“Retailer it, let it cool, put it into one thing, do away with it in a extra smart approach and even take it to the dump. However simply do not pour it down your drains.”
He additionally issued a warning for espresso fanatics, noting that while it’d seem innocuous, the oil or fats can “mix with different issues like espresso grounds. You should not chuck espresso grounds down, they’re heavy, they have an inclination to sit down within the u-bend then mix with different issues to create a blockage.”
A superb strategy to repurpose them is by including them to your backyard to counterpoint the soil. Nick remarked: “It is a actually good concept” and as a result of excessive nitrogen content material, it’s “actually good for rising issues.”
Specialists from the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences have shared three easy but efficient strategies for utilizing espresso grounds to ship nitrogen to your crops:.
“Do not put it on tomatoes or lavender, although, it does not actually work on these,” cautioned Nick. He additionally warned in opposition to disposing of flour down drains.
“I do not know when you keep in mind while you had been children, you made glue out of flour. Effectively, it does the identical factor in your drain.
“In truth, it is so robust the Romans used it to make a sort of cement that made buildings arise for two,000 years. No, I fully made that up”, he quipped, eliciting laughter from the presenters and different friends.

Nick Knowles appeared on BBC Morning Stay (Picture: BBC Morning Stay)
“But it surely’ll make a extremely good clip on Instagram afterward. And also you believed it for a second”.
He continued with a listing of real objects that shouldn’t be discarded down drains, together with “moist wipes and issues like dissolvable wipes”.
Even when you use eco-friendly wipes, he suggested to “put it within the bucket by the facet or the bin that you simply use for feminine sanitary merchandise and different issues that you do not wish to be placing down the loos.”
He concluded: “In the event you maintain these in thoughts, you most likely will not have an issue at first.”
The three Ps folks ought to keep in mind.
❄️ When it’s chilly exterior, the danger of blocked drains rises and a small subject can rapidly flip right into a real-life DIY SOS.
Presenter and all-round handyman Nick Knowles shares what we shouldn’t be placing down our drains.
Watch https://t.co/wtHyyA4Rab pic.twitter.com/jhYocBwQ4j
— BBC Morning Stay (@BBCMorningLive) January 15, 2026
Thames Water, echoing these warnings, advises folks to get rid of such objects within the bin. They acknowledged: “Flushing away moist wipes, interval merchandise or cotton pads can clog pipes, block sewers and trigger flooding in your house.”
As a substitute, households are being urged to recollect the three P’s rule. The steering states: “That is pee, poo and (rest room) paper.
“Anything can block your pipes. Moist wipes, interval merchandise, nappies, cotton wool, dental floss, condoms and hair all belong within the bin.”
Recipe inspiration for the entire household plus chosen affords and competitions Subscribe Invalid e mail
We use your sign-up to supply content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may increasingly embody adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
The recommendation additionally covers oils and unsafe supplies together with remedy, warning: “Bin your meals leftovers too. Sizzling water and washing up liquid will not cease scraps increase in your pipes. Simply keep in mind to let something sizzling quiet down earlier than you throw it away.”
Moreover, residents are reminded to “take any chemical substances, solvents, engine oil and paint to your native refuse or recycling website. Medicines, syringes and needles ought to go to your pharmacist, hospital or well being authority.”

















Leave a Reply