Coke and other sodas do clean a clogged drain, so this is one of those urban myths that has some truth behind it. Coke and similar sodas are caustic and will provide some cleaning power to your drains. However, the power of soda pales in comparison to dedicated cleaners or even baking soda.

Even if the shower drain doesn’t seem clogged or dirty, plan to clean it out about once per month—or more frequently if you or your family shed a lot of hair. It’s a good practice to remove any hair from the drain on a daily basis, as hair can accumulate fast and cause clogs in no time. You may also want to have a plumber thoroughly clean the drains in your home once every six months.

If your kitchen is flooding, first turn off the water supply and electricity before entering the room. Next, focus on immediate flood control by cleaning up any standing water with a sump pump or wet-dry vacuum to prevent long-term water damage to your home. Open your windows and run any dehumidifiers you have handy. Finally, call a professional plumber to help find the source of the flood and repair it.

To keep window wells from filling up with water, you need to stay on top of maintenance. Remove debris as it fills up, and regularly loosen the gravel at the base if it’s become compacted. You can also reslope your yard to make sure water flows away from the window well (and your home’s foundation), and you can even install a window well cover to prevent debris from building up. Installing an actual drainpipe at the base of the well can also prevent window well drainage problems.