Placing greasy dishes directly into the dishwasher is a common practice, but experts warn that one seemingly harmless liquid could be quietly causing damage each time you press start. Cooking oils, remaining grease, salad dressings, and oil-based sauces should never be poured or rinsed into your dishwasher, specialists caution. While they may seem to disappear during a hot wash cycle, the fatty residue can progressively build up in your home's pipework over time, potentially leading to a substantial plumbing bill—the last thing hard-pressed families throughout the UK need.
How Fats and Oils Cause Blockages
According to Home Serve, fats, oils, and grease flow through the plumbing while still warm, then cool and solidify further along the pipe. As they harden, they stick to the interiors of drains, trapping food particles and other debris and eventually causing stubborn blockages. The home emergency repairs and improvements company warns that the issue doesn't end with used cooking oil; grease from roasting tins, frying pans, oily marinades, and salad dressings can all contribute to the same accumulation if routinely washed away.
Recommended Disposal Methods
Instead of pouring these substances into the dishwasher, specialists recommend wiping greasy pots, pans, and plates with a kitchen roll before loading them. Any remaining oil should be left to cool, then transferred into a suitable container and disposed of in the household bin. Water UK asserts that fats, oils, and grease rank among the principal causes of blocked sewers across the country. These substances can combine with other waste materials to form enormous obstructions known as fatbergs, which cost millions of pounds to remove every year.
Additional Sink No-No's
Studies highlighted by Thames Water also warn that pouring grease down the sink remains one of the leading causes of avoidable blockages. The water company explains that hot water and washing-up liquid may initially appear to wash grease away, but it then cools and hardens further along the pipework. Plumbing experts also advise against disposing of coffee grounds, flour, rice, and pasta down the sink, as they can cause obstructions in household pipes. Taking a few extra moments before loading the dishwasher could help homeowners avoid expensive repair bills.
