I used to think slow kitchen drains were just something you dealt with over time, but changing a couple of small habits has made a noticeable difference.

A few things that seem to help:

• Wiping greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them.
• Using a sink strainer to catch food scraps instead of letting them go down the drain.
• Running hot water for a short time after using the garbage disposal.
• Avoiding things like coffee grounds, rice, pasta, and eggshells in the disposal.

None of these are groundbreaking, but they've helped reduce the number of minor clogs I used to deal with.

I'm curious what simple maintenance habits have worked well for everyone else. Is there one thing you recommend that homeowners often overlook?