Households are being urged to pour washing up liquid down kitchen drains to prevent blockages as heavy rain returns to much of the UK from Monday to Wednesday.
After weeks of heatwaves, the weather has turned markedly more changeable, with days of heavy rain washing over much of the country for most of the weekend and more forecast for Sunday. According to the Met Office, further rain could hit various parts of the country in the coming days, including heavy rain for several parts of the UK from Monday to Wednesday.
Why drains clog up
When heavy rain returns, drains on the side of a house can quickly clog up with leaves, twigs and other dirt and dust, while food waste down kitchen drains can also clog up outdoor drains, including fat, grease and even rice and bits of food grime.
Plumbing and home maintenance firm Maintracts says outdoor drains connected to the kitchen sink – and only these – can be unblocked quickly using simple washing up liquid and hot water. The tip is only for drains connected to the kitchen sink; it should not be poured down a drain that is just for rainwater, as chemical-based washing up liquid is bad for watercourses and can kill wildlife. For those drains, a natural drain cleaner such as vinegar and baking soda is better.
How to unblock drains
Maintracts says in its online guidance: “Fat, oil and grease (commonly known as FOG) are among the biggest culprits behind blocked gullies and outside drains.
“When hot grease is poured down the sink, it may seem harmless. But as it cools in your foul water drain, it hardens and sticks to the pipe walls. Eventually, this sticky mess collects other debris, such as food scraps, soap scum and dirt, creating a solid, immovable blockage.
“This is especially problematic in outdoor drains, which are more exposed to the elements and can easily become a magnet for garden debris, mud and litter, thereby exacerbating the blockage.”
To tackle this, Maintracts recommends pouring boiling water mixed with a generous amount of washing-up liquid into the drain. “The boiling water helps melt the fat, while the soap breaks it down, making it easier to flush away. Ensure to do this slowly to allow the heat and detergent time to work. Repeat the process several times for optimal results.”
Preventing future blockages
Once the blockage is cleared, Maintracts advises keeping drains clear and flowing by never pouring fat or grease down the sink, wiping plates and pans before washing, using strainers in sinks to catch solid particles, installing a grease trap if cooking frequently, and keeping gullies and drain covers clear of leaves, litter and other outdoor debris to prevent surface water buildup.
The Met Office says about the forecast from Monday to Wednesday: "Continuing changeable and often windy, with spells of rain and showers moving across the UK, interspersed with drier interludes. Cool at first, exacerbated by the wind, but becoming much milder."
