If the holes are clogged and it does not drain there is a problem. I used large aluminum sheets of screen for drain material. It will last and its very likely to not clog up and the holes are too small for the worms to get out. I had to fasion a cap/top to keep them from climbing out, after that they did well. Could be that one or more of the items you added in were laced with cleaning fluid which caused them to die( just a guess). Common dawn will not kill them, ask my daughter she gave them a bath
, i was pretty worried for a week or so but no ill effects. Other, stronger stuff (409) may be a problem.
