Most homeowners treat their kitchen sink like a “disappear-o-matic.” You pour a little bit of bacon grease down the drain, run the hot water for a minute, and assume it’s gone forever.
Unfortunately, that liquid grease doesn’t stay liquid for long. Once it hits your cold underground pipes, it undergoes a chemical change, hardening into a “fatberg” that can wreck your plumbing and clog your drain.
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What Exactly is F.O.G.?
F.O.G. stands for Fats, Oils, and Grease. It includes items that commonly cause drain issues.
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Fats: Meat trimmings, lard, and shortening.
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Oils: Salad dressings, vegetable oil, and butter.
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Grease: The runoff from cooking meats (bacon, beef, chicken).
Why Putting “Hot Water and Soap” Down Your Drain Doesn’t Work
The most common myth we hear is: “If I use enough Dawn and hot water, the grease won’t clog.” While soap breaks up grease temporarily, that effect wears off as the water travels through your pipes. The grease eventually separates, cools, and sticks to the walls of your drain and sewer line. Over time, it acts like a magnet for hair, wet wipes, and other debris, eventually creating a total blockage that can cause raw sewage to back up into your home.
How to Properly Dispose of F.O.G.
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Can it: Keep a sturdy “grease jar” (like an old coffee tin or glass jar) under the sink. Pour warm grease into it and let it harden before putting it anywhere near your drain.
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Scrape it: Before washing plates or pans, use a rubber spatula to scrape excess oil into the trash and keep it out of the drain.
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Screen it: Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps that contain fats and empty them into the compost or trash.
What to Do if Your Drain is Already Slow
If you’re noticing a “gurgling” sound or a foul smell coming from your kitchen sink, the F.O.G. buildup has likely already started inside your drain. At this stage, chemical drain cleaners usually do more harm than good by corroding your pipes. At this point, it’s time to call a plumber.
Learn More: EPA Guide on F.O.G.