Quick answer
Keep fat, food scraps and wipes out of the sink. Scrape plates into the bin, let fat cool before you bin it, and fit a sink strainer. If the sink still drains slowly, ask about drain jetting.
What blocks a kitchen drain
Fat, oil and grease are liquid when hot. They cool inside the pipe, then set on the pipe wall. Over time they trap food scraps, so the gap closes while the flow slows.
Other waste adds to the problem. Coffee grounds clump together, while flour and starchy food can turn to paste. Wipes are the worst of all, because they do not break up in water.
- Cooking fat, oil and gravy
- Coffee grounds and tea leaves
- Rice, pasta and potato peelings
- Flour and eggshells
- Wipes, kitchen roll and cloths
Yorkshire Water's blockages page says nearly 50% of blockages in Yorkshire come from wipes. It also says the biggest fatberg it has uncovered weighed 1.5 tonnes. Fat and wipes both help build lumps like that, because they cling and bind.
Daily habits that help
Small habits keep a kitchen drain clear because they cut the load on your pipes. Each one takes seconds. Start with the sink strainer, since it catches the most.
- Scrape plates and pans into the food waste bin before you wash up.
- Wipe greasy pans with kitchen roll, then bin the roll.
- Fit a sink strainer and empty it after each wash.
- Let cooking fat cool in the pan or a tub, then bin it.
- Run the hot tap for a short time after greasy washing-up.
Running hot water helps move loose residue along. However, hot water alone may not remove fat that has set, so do not rely on it. The bin does the real work.
Monthly habits
Once a month, lift out the plug and strainer and clear any build-up. Wipe the plughole with a cloth and warm soapy water. Smells here are an early warning, because waste is starting to sit.
Some people use baking soda and white vinegar. It may freshen a trap, but it will not clear a real blockage. Avoid strong chemical drain cleaners too, since they can harm old pipework and do not shift solid lumps.
If you know how, put a bucket under the sink trap and clear it by hand. Wear gloves, and refit it with care. Otherwise, leave it alone, since a poor refit can leak, and ask for help.
What not to pour or flush
The sink is not a bin. Use this list as a quick check, since one slip can start a build-up.
- Never pour cooking oil, fat or gravy down the plughole
- Do not rinse paint or cement down the sink
- Keep wipes out of both the sink and the toilet
- Bin tea leaves, coffee grounds and eggshells
Signs a blockage is building
A kitchen drain rarely blocks without warning, because fat builds up slowly. The sink empties more slowly than before, and water may linger around the plughole. You may also hear gurgling or notice a sour smell. Our guide to warning signs of a blocked drain lists more.
Some signs sit outside the home, since kitchen waste often runs to an outside gully. Grease can collect there. Our guide on why outside drains block in York explains what to look for. If several fixtures slow down together, read hidden signs of a blocked drain.
When to ask for jetting
Habits cannot clear grease that has already set. If the sink stays slow after a plunger, the pipe may need cleaning, because the fat sits on the wall. Jetting uses high-pressure water to scour fat off the pipe wall.
Our guide to drain jetting versus drain rods compares the two methods. The drain jetting page explains the service, while the blocked sink page covers sinks in particular. If the sink blocks again within weeks, ask about a CCTV drain survey.
Send a request through the contact form, which is open 24/7. While you wait, stop pouring anything down the sink. Ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts. Town pages cover blocked drains in York, drain jetting in Selby and blocked drains in Easingwold. The services page lists the rest.
Grease can build up in any town. Read about drain jetting in Pocklington or drain jetting in Bishopthorpe. For a slow sink, drain unblocking in Strensall is another place to start.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I pour cooking oil down the sink if I run hot water?
No. Hot water keeps the oil runny for a moment, yet it cools further down the pipe and sets. Let it cool, then bin it.
Is boiling water safe for my kitchen drain?
Boiling water can soften some plastic waste pipes and crack old fittings. Hot water from the tap is a gentler choice, since it is less likely to harm them. If you are unsure, ask the engineer about your pipes.
Does a sink strainer help?
It catches food scraps before they reach the pipe, so less waste builds up. Empty it after each wash. However, it will not stop fat, so bin that separately.
How often should I clean my kitchen drain?
Clear the plug and strainer once a month, and scrape plates each day. A slow sink or a sour smell means it is time to look sooner, since both are early warnings. If it stays slow, ask for help.
