Households in parts of the UK experiencing rain are being urged to pour washing up liquid down their kitchen-connected outdoor drains to prevent blockages. According to plumbing and home maintenance firm Maintracts, a simple mixture of washing up liquid and hot water can clear blockages caused by fat, oil, and grease (FOG), which are common culprits in outdoor drains.
Why Pour Washing Up Liquid Down the Drain?
The Met Office forecasts rain for northern England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland on Sunday, July 5, 2026, while southern areas face heatwave conditions. After several dry weeks, the sudden rain can wash debris into drains, causing blockages. Maintracts explains that when hot grease is poured down the sink, it cools and hardens in the drain, sticking to pipe walls and collecting food scraps, soap scum, and dirt. This creates a solid blockage, especially in outdoor drains exposed to garden debris.
To tackle this, Maintracts recommends pouring boiling water mixed with a generous amount of washing-up liquid into the drain. The boiling water melts the fat, while the soap breaks it down, making it easier to flush away. They advise doing this slowly and repeating several times for optimal results.
Important: Only for Kitchen-Connected Drains
This tip applies only to outdoor drains connected to the kitchen sink. Pouring washing up liquid down rainwater drains from the roof is harmful to watercourses and wildlife. For those drains, use natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda. Maintracts suggests using plant-based washing up liquid to reduce environmental impact.
Preventing Future Blockages
Maintracts offers advice to keep drains clear: never pour fat or grease down the sink, wipe plates and pans before washing, use sink strainers to catch solid particles, install a grease trap if cooking frequently, and keep drain covers clear of leaves and debris.
