The best way to clean grease from drains is not to get grease down in the first place. But a little fat, oil, and grease (also known as FOG) often slip through to cause clogs and backups in your sink. FOG is tough to clean up since it doesn’t dissolve in water. What will dissolve grease in a drain? Try these DIY remedies before picking up the phone and calling a plumber.
How to unclog a drain that has grease in it yourself
It's best to handle grease in a drain as soon as you notice it. Don’t wait for even more buildup to block your drains: start trying DIY fixes.
Start with boiling water
Boiling water can help heat grease and flush it down your pipes. It’s best used on minor clogs as soon as you notice an issue. Bring a pot or kettle full of water to a boil, then slowly pour it down the drain to avoid splashing yourself. The hot water should help break up grease clumps so you can more easily clean your sink.
Reach for the natural degreaser
Make a degreaser right at home with some popular household cleaning items. Try either 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup white cleaning vinegar OR 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup borax, and 1/2 cup vinegar.
Pour your chosen mixture down the drain and let it sit for about 15 minutes before pouring hot or boiling water to flush it. Follow up with cool water to make sure things keep moving.
Finish with a plunger or drain snake
Sometimes the best way to remove a clog is by physically removing it from the drain. If you reach for a sink plunger, fill your sink partially with water to create the seal the plunger needs to work. Push up and down rapidly (like you do with a toilet) to clear the clog.
If the plunger doesn’t work, feed a plumber’s snake down the drain until it hits resistance. Break up the clog by twisting the handle, then retract the snake to remove the clog from the drain entirely.
Related Content: Drain Maintenance: How to Keep Drains from Clogging
Can you put degreaser down a drain?
Chemical drain degreaser solutions are often corrosive on pipes, causing more problems than they solve. When you need to know how to dissolve grease in a drain, biological or enzymatic cleaners should be your go-to instead of harsher solutions.
When to call a plumber for grease stuck in the drain
There are a few ways to tell that it’s time to call the pros:
- You tried to unclog your sink yourself, and it didn’t work.
- The clog is too far down the pipe to reach.
- More than one drain in your house is clogging.
- You have a broken grease trap.
- You can smell sewage near your drains.
If you notice these signs during a grease clog, call a professional plumber to help fully repair your kitchen sink without causing further damage.
We can help with grease in the kitchen skin drain
If your clogged drain proves too challenging, we’re happy to come in and take a look! Our technicians have the knowledge and experience to clear even deep or stubborn clogs. We’ll let you know what’s clogging your sink and how you can prevent it in the future. Then, we’ll clear everything out so you can get back to business as usual. Call (336) 502-8540 or request service online.