Why you should never pour clay water down the sink

Jules
Oct 7
2 min read

Updated: Oct 9

When you finish a throwing session, there’s usually one messy reminder of how much fun you’ve had: a bucket full of cloudy clay water.

If you work in a home studio - or even a small one like mine at Tadwick Ceramics - it’s tempting to just tip it down the sink. But please don't: clay water and plumbing do not mix.

The problem with clay water

Clay doesn’t dissolve in water. Those fine particles that make up your slurry stay suspended for a while, but eventually, they settle and harden.

If you pour that down a domestic drain, it will start to clog the pipes - and over time, it’s like pouring liquid cement into your plumbing. The result? Blocked drains, costly repairs, and a lot of wasted material.

It’s one of those unseen studio habits that can cause big headaches later on.

My low-tech, no-plumbing solution

I don’t have a fancy clay trap or sink separator in my studio. Instead, I use a simple three-bucket system that works perfectly for small spaces:

The Dirty Bucket – This is the one I use while throwing. It’s full of clay slip, trimmings, and wheel splatter. When it’s full, I let it sit until the clay settles at the bottom, then pour off the clearer water on top. The sediment can be dried and reclaimed later.
The Wash Bucket – This one’s for rinsing tools, sponges, and hands after throwing. It’s cleaner than the first bucket, but still cloudy.
The Clean Bucket – This is my final rinse. It’s nearly clear and perfect for a last wash of hands or tools before everything goes too dry.

It sounds simple, but it keeps clay completely out of my drains and allows me to reuse or safely dispose of the water once it’s settled. I have a large garden so find an area of gash orchard to empty my buckets letting the clay return to the earth where it came from.

Cleaning up after a wet clay session

After a throwing session, I always:

Wipe down surfaces with a damp sponge.
Empty and settle buckets overnight so clay can sink to the bottom.
Dry out the settled clay and add it to my reclaim bin later.

It’s a small ritual, but it keeps the studio tidy, clean and environmentally kind.

Why it matters

Beyond saving your plumbing, this simple practice respects the material you’re working with. Clay is natural and precious - it comes from the earth, and with a bit of care, it can be used again and again.

Pouring it down the drain is criminal. Taking those few extra minutes to manage clay water properly is part of being a thoughtful maker.