Grease might seem harmless when you’re washing up, but it’s actually one of the most common causes of blocked kitchen sinks. If you’re wondering how to remove grease from drains, slow drainage, unpleasant smells, or standing water are clear signs that it’s time to act.
Grease, fat, and oil from cooking can solidify inside your pipes, trapping food debris and gradually building into a blockage. While small amounts can sometimes be tackled at home, stubborn grease often requires professional attention. In this guide, we’ll explain why grease blocks drains, how to remove grease from a drain safely, and why calling a professional might be the best solution.
Why Grease Blocks Drains
When hot oil, cooking fat, or leftover grease goes down your sink, it flows easily at first. The problem starts when it cools. Grease solidifies and sticks to the inside walls of your drain pipes.
Over time, that sticky layer thickens. Food scraps, coffee grounds, and other debris cling to it, narrowing the pipe and slowing water flow. Eventually, this creates a full blockage.
Even in larger sewer systems, grease can combine with wipes and other waste to form massive “fatbergs,”. In your home, the scale is smaller, but the effect is the same.
If your sink drains slowly or smells bad, it’s a sign you need to remove grease from a sink drain before it becomes a serious problem.
How to Remove Grease from Drains
Early Stage
If water is still draining, even slowly, you can often remove grease from a drain yourself. Timing matters the earlier you tackle it, the easier it is to prevent a full blockage.
Some effective early-stage methods include:
Washing up liquid and hot water: Dish soap breaks down grease on plates, and it can do the same in pipes. Add a generous amount to the drain and follow with very hot (not boiling) water. This helps soften light grease deposits and move them along.
Baking soda and vinegar: Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain, then add a cup of white vinegar. Allow it to fizz for 10–15 minutes, then flush with hot water. This is best for minor grease residue rather than fully hardened blockages.
Clean the U-bend: If the blockage is close to the sink, removing and manually cleaning the U-bend can completely remove grease. This is often where grease collects first before building further down the pipe.
These methods work well if the grease hasn’t hardened deep inside your pipes.
How to Remove Grease from Drain Pipes
When It’s Hardened
If your sink is fully blocked or water is backing up, the grease has likely hardened inside the drain pipes. At this stage, DIY methods are usually not enough.
Here’s what you should know:
Boiling water alone won’t fix hardened grease: Pouring boiling water may temporarily loosen some of the blockage, but it often pushes grease further down where it solidifies again.
Chemical drain cleaners aren’t always effective: These may create a small hole through the blockage but usually leave thick grease residue behind, which quickly traps debris and causes the clog to return.
Professional cleaning is often necessary: True removal means stripping the pipe interior completely. High-pressure water jetting or mechanical cleaning is typically the only way to fully clear hardened grease and restore proper flow.
Repeated slow drainage is often a sign that the underlying grease layer wasn’t fully cleared, making professional intervention the safest long-term solution.
Why Grease Blockages Keep Coming Back
Grease doesn’t just form a single plug it creates layers along the pipe walls. Even if water flows again, sticky residue remains. Every time more grease or food waste goes down the sink, it clings to that layer.
Over weeks or months, this gradually narrows the pipe, creating a cycle of repeated blockages. That’s why homeowners frequently search for how to remove grease from sink drain or how to remove grease from drain pipes, only to face the same problem again.
Why It’s Best to Call a Professional
When DIY methods fail or the blockage keeps returning, calling a professional drain engineer is the smartest move. They have the right tools to fully remove grease from drain pipes rather than just poke a hole in the clog.
Professionals can:
Use high-pressure water jetting to completely strip grease from pipes
Conduct CCTV surveys to find hidden issues causing repeated grease build-up
Prevent damage that DIY methods or chemicals might cause
Restore full flow and reduce the chance of future blockages
Trying to force a stubborn grease blockage yourself can crack joints, dislodge fittings, or push the grease further into the external drainage system. A professional fix is often cheaper and less stressful in the long run.
Preventing Grease Build-Up
Once your drain is clear, preventing future blockages is key. You can reduce grease problems by:
Never pouring cooking oil, fat, or grease down the sink
Wiping greasy pans with paper towels before washing
Using a sink strainer to catch food debris
Running hot water after washing up
Scheduling periodic drain maintenance if you cook frequently
Need Help Removing Grease from Your Drain?
Understanding how to remove grease from drains can save you time and frustration, but when grease has hardened deep in your pipes, professional help is the only reliable solution.
If your sink is slow, blocked, or repeatedly clogging, don’t wait for a minor issue to turn into a major repair. Contact a professional drain cleaning service today to safely remove grease from your sink drain, restore proper flow, and prevent future blockages.
Get Your Grease Blocked Drains Cleared Today!
Struggling with a slow or blocked sink? Don’t let hardened grease damage your pipes. Our professional drain cleaning service can safely remove grease from drain pipes, restore full flow, and prevent future blockages. Book now for fast, reliable service and keep your kitchen running smoothly.