Overview
- Maintracts advises pouring boiling water mixed with washing-up liquid into the affected outdoor drain to melt and disperse grease build-ups.
- The guidance stresses slow application and repeated pours to give heat and detergent time to break down deposits.
- The tip must not be used on rainwater-only drains because detergent can harm watercourses and wildlife, with plant-based products recommended to reduce impact.
- FOG—fat, oil and grease—hardens on pipe walls and traps debris, creating solid blockages that are common in exposed outside gullies.
- Local outlets highlight the advice as heavy rain and falling leaves raise blockage risks, noting the low cost of washing-up liquid and prevention steps such as wiping pans, using strainers, considering grease traps and keeping gullies clear.