Grease can clog sewer pipes if you dump an excessive amount of the substance down your sink’s drain. These clogs can lead to overflows and backups in the sewer system, which leads to expensive repairs. Minimize the amount of grease going down your drains with the following solutions.
Pour Grease Into a Safe Container
The best way to dispose of your cooking grease is by pouring the liquid into a safe container until it cools and solidifies. Once the grease hardens, you can easily throw it away in your trash. We recommend an old glass jar, a coffee tin, or a metal can.
Furthermore, consider dumping the grease into these containers away from the sink, so you don’t accidentally pour some down the drain. You could also place an old towel or a layer of foil beneath the jar on the counter to prevent the grease from spilling elsewhere.
Wipe Greasy Pots and Pans Before Washing
Before you clean the pan you just cooked bacon in, you should wipe away any grease. This goes for any pot or pan you used to cook food with oil. Immediately rinsing the grease with water will allow more to fall down your drain than is necessary. You can avoid this by letting the pan cool down before taking a dry paper towel to wipe away any excess grease. Then, finish cleaning the pan with hot water and soap.
Throw Meat Scraps and Food Away
After trimming the fat off meat, never place the scraps in your garbage disposal. This is because the oil from the fat on the meat can clog your drains. Instead, you must throw this away in your trash bin. The same goes for leftover fatty food scraps.
Dump Boiling Water Down Your Sink Monthly
While you should have a grease trap to stop any grease from entering your sewer system, your best efforts could still lead to an accumulation of grease in your drains. When your grease trap is no longer functioning correctly, pouring boiling water down the sink once a month will help loosen the grease buildup and unclog your drain and trap. However, if there are signs you need to replace the grease trap, you may need to update the component or hire a professional service to clean your trap and drain.
Pouring grease directly down your drain could lead to costly problems in the future. Next time you’re cooking with this substance, take the time to consider how you’re disposing of it. Remember—you can minimize the amount of grease going down your drains by straining grease in a jar, wiping down pans, tossing fatty food scraps, and cleaning with boiling water.
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